Cop Killed in Solo Freeway Crash was Drunk

A 32-year veteran of the Costa Mesa Police Department had almost twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system when he slammed his car into a concrete overpass pillar in Costa Mesa and died last month, according to an Orange County Coroner's Report obtained today.

Detective Mike Delgadillo, 57, was off duty when at about 10:15 p.m. March 6, his car struck the pillar on Bristol Street under the Costa Mesa (55) Freeway, according to Costa Mesa police.

Responding Costa Mesa police officers and firefighters took Delgadillo to Santa Ana's Western Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 12:29 a.m. March 7.

The official cause of death was ruled accidental due to blunt force injuries to the chest and abdomen, according to the coroner's report, which was issued on the date of Delgadillo's birthday, March 28.

Delgadillo's blood-alcohol level was measured at .014 at the hospital, according to the coroner's report.

Delgadillo was popular in the Costa Mesa department, said Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy, who worked with him for 11 years.

Delgadillo was considered humble and hardworking with a dry sense of humor, Murphy said.

He joined the Costa Mesa police force in October 1981. Among his beats was the sprawling South Coast Plaza shopping center.

From 1988 through 1994, Delgadillo worked with the canine unit and was given multiple commendations for work with his canine partner Nero.

In 1996, Delgadillo joined the gang unit as an investigator, transferring to the anti-drug unit the next year. In 2004, he was assigned to the detective bureau.

- City News Service