L.A. Motorcycle Cop Thomas Albanese ID’d As Victim In Thursday Lakewood On-Duty Fatal Crash

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA. (THECOUNT) — Thomas Albanese has been identified as the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department motorcycle deputy struck and killed on-duty Thursday in Los Angeles County.

Albanese, 41, was killed after his motorcycle was struck by a vehicle while he was attempting to conduct a traffic stop Thursday morning in Lakewood.

According to reports, Albanese was attempting to pull over a vehicle near Del Amo Boulevard and Paramount Boulevard in Lakewood, when he was struck by a sedan as he crossed an intersection.

“The force of the collision was extreme, and Deputy Albanese died instantly,” a department statement said.

Deputy Albanese’s last assignment was as a Pico Rivera Station Motor Deputy but was working overtime at the Lakewood Station when the collision occurred.

Albanese was a seven-year veteran of the department who worked at Men’s Central Jail and the Transit Service Bureau before being transferred to the Lakewood sheriff’s station. Previously Albanese was a Marine who served four tours in Iraq.

“Thomas touched the lives of many people while working in the Department. He received several commendations for his work in patrol and helping the citizens of Los Angeles County,” Sheriff Alex Villanueva said.

Albanese is survived by his wife of 12 years, Erica, and his two young sons.

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Geo quick facts: Los Angeles County, officially the County of Los Angeles, is the most populous county in the United States and in the U.S. state of California, with more than ten million inhabitants as of 2018. It is the largest non–state-level government entity in the United States – Wikipedia.