TWO VALLEY COPS DIE ON 101 OFF-DUTY OFFICERS KILLED IN PAIR OF CRASHES HOURS APART.

Byline: RACHEL URANGA

Staff Writer

In a coincidentally tragic day on the highways for San Fernando Valley police officers, two members of the LAPD were killed Sunday in unrelated crashes a few miles and hours apart, with the first collision causing a traffic mess.

About 3:30 a.m., George Selleh, 52, of Simi Valley, who worked out of the Mission Division as a narcotics detective, collided with a broken-down car while riding his motorcycle on the 101 Freeway near Highland Avenue in Hollywood.

About seven hours later, a car was found in some landscaping down an embankment off the 101 near Sepulveda Boulevard. Police initially reported that a dead body was discovered inside. Hours later, the Los Angeles Police Department said it was David Rodriguez, 33, of Palmdale -- another one of its own.

"This is a tremendous loss for all of us," said LAPD Deputy Chief Michel Moore, the Valley's highest-ranking cop.

Neither officer was on duty at the time of the crashes. Selleh, a 29-year LAPD veteran, was on his way to a side job working security for a movie set at Fifth and Hill streets downtown when his motorcycle collided with a 1991 Toyota blocking two lanes.

The Toyota had just been involved in a crash and had hit the center divider, California Highway Patrol Officer Alex Delgadillo said. Selleh was thrown from his motorcycle and died at the scene.

At least 10 other cars swerved to try to avoid the Toyota, causing an incident that took hours to investigate. No other major injuries were reported.

Video footage from the scene aired by KABC (Channel 7) showed oblivious drivers -- with little to warn them of what was ahead -- careening into each other and scattering debris that spread some 2,000 feet.

The southbound 101 remained closed at Highland until 5:30 p.m. -- or 14 hours after the crash occurred -- backing up traffic well into the Valley.

One report had it stretched all the way to Reseda Boulevard some 15 miles away. Others more conservatively estimated the backup to a few miles past the 101/134 split.

Either way, the herd inched along at a slow jog of 4 mph, CHP Officer Patrick Kimball said.

"This is significantly worse than typical Los Angeles traffic," he said.

Selleh is survived by his wife, 20-year-old son and 18-year-old daughter. His family declined to comment.

At the Mission Division station, counselors and clergy members were on hand to console distraught officers, Moore said. He described Selleh as a quiet character.

"He was one of the linchpins, the go-to guys. He was an absolute professional," Moore said. "He has a long history of working in the Valley. He was well-known to many officers. He was well-respected."

Selleh's supervisor, Capt. William Scott, released the following statement:

"It is always difficult when we lose one of our own. The men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department are deeply saddened and our hearts and prayers go out to Detective Selleh's family and his many friends."

The second death was discovered about 10:20 a.m. when a 2004 Mazda was found in thick greenery off the eastbound 101 where the southbound San Diego Freeway merges in the fast lane.

The car had gone off the roadway in a solo vehicle spinout after hitting a guardrail, according to the CHP. The car had inexplicably lost control and overturned.

By 2:45 p.m. Sunday, Moore, LAPD Chief William Bratton and Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger were at roll call for the North Hollywood Division to bring more bad news, this time about Rodriguez.

Joining the force in 2003, he worked most of his career out of North Hollywood. He had recently taken a position in the gang detail and was well- regarded by his peers, Moore said.

"He was a popular officer," he said, adding that at roll call "there were a lot of tears."

Rodriguez, who grew up in North Hollywood, is survived by his mother and a brother.

"She was just devastated," said North Hollywood Division Capt. Sharyn Buck, who spoke with Rodriguez's mother. "He took care of her. He did everything for her. He was her life."

The news was especially tough to take for the North Hollywood officers, many of whom had just returned from responding to the crash that killed Selleh about 12 hours earlier.

"They were the first responders," Moore said. "It is a division that has seen the death of two LAPD officers."

Staff Writers Patrick St. Michel and Susan Abram contributed to this report.

rachel.uranga(at)dailynews.com

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CAPTION(S):

2 photos, map

Photo:

(1 -- color) SELLEH

(2 -- color) RODRIGUEZ

Map:

Fatal freeway crashes

Gregg Miller/Staff Artist