Earlier this afternoon at approx. 4:00 p.m., Oxnard Police Officers responded to a traffic collision on Third Street near Campton Drive.

When officers arrived on scene, they found a motorcyclist suffering from life-threatening injuries. Officers quickly identified the motorcyclist as off-duty Oxnard Police Officer Nathan Martin, who had just left the police station less than a mile away.

Preliminary information indicated that Officer Martin was driving a motorcycle eastbound on Third Street when a large tractor trailer made a left turn in front of him. Officer Martin was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center, and despite all life saving measures, he died from his injuries. The California Highway Patrol was asked to conduct the traffic collision investigation, and are handling this task.

Officer Martin was 45 years old and a 20-year veteran of the Oxnard Police Department. He is survived by his wife, Marita; son Gabriel (20 years); daughter Soraya (17 years); son David (14 years); and mother Susan.

Officer Martin held a variety of assignments during his 20-year career at the Oxnard Police Department including patrol officer, property crimes investigator and traffic officer. He was currently the School Resource Officer at Hueneme High School and had just left the campus less than an hour before the accident. The Oxnard Police Department has been in contact with the Oxnard Union High School District since the time of the collision and grief counselors will be on campus at Hueneme High School tomorrow to assist with grieving students.

Several of the first responders on scene were close personal friends with Officer Martin and are obviously devastated. Peer support and police chaplains have been at the police station since the collision to provide help and support for his fellow employees.

The Oxnard Police Department wants to thank their brothers and sisters at neighboring agencies throughout Southern California that have reached out to offer support and assistance.