San Diego police officer injured in Clairemont crash returns to Texas to recover – NBC 7 San Diego

On Monday evening, Martinez returned to his family's hometown of Lubbock, Texas.

“I was shocked,” Martinez said at the airport Monday night after his plane landed. His hands were still bandaged and there were some bruises under his eyes. “I wasn't expecting this at all, especially when they got on the plane and asked me to stand up and go to the front. I wasn't expecting it – I was expecting, OK, some family and friends and stuff like that, but to come out and see a full lineup of everyone was great. It was fantastic.”

The officers were killed in the accident on August 26, when a teenage driver driving the gray BMW crashed into the SUV the officers were riding in.

Martinez's father told NBC 7 in August that his son, who has been sworn in as a San Diego police officer for 18 months, is a hero who has dedicated his life to the service.

“He was born and raised to serve,” San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said during a press conference the day after the accident. “He's an EMT. His heart is in helping people.”

Zach Martinez's path to law enforcement began in 2014. During his high school years, he participated in the Explorer Program at the Lubbock Police Department in Texas. Officer Brinnen Kent, Zach Martinez's former instructor, described Martinez as a smart competitor who helped the Explorers win leadership and other awards.

Because Martinez was unable to join the San Diego Police Department until he was 21, he joined the Navy's military police at 18, according to Kent.

Kent said that during their conversation the week before the crash, Martinez talked about how excited he was to serve in San Diego.