February 23, 2026 – The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner (DME) determined the cause of death for 34-year-old California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer Miguel Cano as the effects of fentanyl. The time and route of how the fentanyl was introduced into Officer Cano’s system is unknown and cannot be determined. The manner of death is accident.
On July 2, 2025, at approximately 0027 hours, Officer Cano was driving a CHP vehicle back to the office after making an arrest. Enroute to the office, the vehicle collided with fixed objects and a tree. Officer Cano was taken to a local hospital where death was pronounced at 0140 hours on July 2, 2025.
A deputy medical examiner completed an examination of Officer Cano on July 3, 2025, and the cause and manner of death was certified on February 23, 2026.
The Medical Examiner report will be released at a future date. News media representatives interested in receiving a copy of the report should email pio@me.lacounty.gov if a request was not previously submitted. All other requests for the report must be submitted online: Case Detail – County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner.
The DME case number for Officer Cano is 2025-10670.
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