Sheriff’s Deputy Dies as Car Hits Pole
An off-duty Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy died when he lost control of his car and it slammed into a power pole on Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Chatsworth, Los Angeles police said Sunday.
Sheldon Schaefer, 46, was driving south near Chatsworth Street about 8 p.m. Saturday when he apparently tried to pass another car on the left and hit the concrete center divider, Officer Frank Zdroy said. Schaefer’s car jumped the divider and careened across the northbound lanes before smashing into the pole on the east side of the street, Zdroy said.
Schaefer died at the scene of the accident.
Zdroy said Schaefer, a 23-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department assigned to the Men’s Central Jail, was on his way to work at the time of the accident.
It was unclear what caused Schaefer to lose control of his car. No sign of drugs or alcohol was found at the scene, Zdroy said.
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