For the second time in less than a week, a Chandler motorcycle officer has been killed in a crash. This time it happened early Friday morning.
Chandler police said the crash took the life of 37-year-old Officer David Payne, a member of the department’s drunk driver enforcement squad.
Sgt. Seth Tyler said the officer was stopped at a red light, when his motorcycle was hit from behind by a vehicle being driven by 31-year-old Brian Yazzie. Tyler said the driver attempted to flee the scene, before getting out of his vehicle with his 11-month-old daughter and starting to walk down the street.
"He was immediately apprehended by officers. He was identified as being the operator of the vehicle. Officers immediately detected signs and symptoms of possible alcohol impairment," Tyler said.
Tyler said Yazzie is being booked on manslaughter, endangerment and hit-and-run charges.
The officer’s death follows by just days, the death of Chandler motorcycle officer Bryant Holmes, who was hit by an SUV that failed to stop at a red light. His funeral is this weekend.