The collision occurred at about 10 p.m. Tuesday in Costa Mesa.
According to police, the officer was driving down Newport Boulevard when he somehow lost control of his vehicle and slammed into one of the support columns under the 55 Freeway at Bristol Street near Newport Avenue.
Exactly what led up to the crash remains under investigation. Since the victim was a member of the Costa Mesa Police Department, the Newport Beach Police Department is the lead agency in the investigation.
The officer was rushed to the Western Medical Center in Santa Ana. Doctors performed surgery to try and save his life, but they were unsuccessful.
The officer's identity has yet to be released, but a source told Eyewitness News that he was on the force for nearly 30 years.
