A California Highway Patrol officer died Wednesday, July 2, after apparently suffering a medical emergency and crashing his patrol SUV into a tree in Culver City as he and his partner were taking a DUI and drug-possession suspect to jail. The crash was reported just after 12:30 a.m. at Bristol Parkway near Green Valley Circle.

An officer with the California Highway Patrol died Wednesday after suffering from a medical emergency following an arrest in Culver City, authorities said, leading to a single-car crash. Luzdelia Caballero reports.

Cortez Smith, 29, had returned home to Cleveland to join the police academy when he died following a 'medical emergency' during the final physical agility test for his academy class last week. Now, his former colleagues and fellow recruits are left reeling.