A 25-year-old La Mesa police officer was struck and killed on Interstate 8 Monday night while out of her patrol car to provide aid to others involved in a deadly crash .

LMPD officer Lauren Craven was remembered by her department Tuesday as a "courageous, young officer" with a passion for helping others. The way she died—selflessly—they said, is a reflection of who she was in life.

California Highway Patrol, which is leading the investigation into the chain-reaction crash that also left another driver dead , said Craven was on duty, driving on eastbound I-8 when she saw a rollover crash involving two vehicles. She radioed for help, got out of her patrol vehicle and began aiding to the individuals involved.

LMPD said the 25-year-old was returning from the San Diego Central Jail when

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