SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- The San Diego police officer who was severely injured in a deadly crash in August returned to duty Friday, according to a social media post. According to a post on X, formerly Twitter, by Sgt. Jared Wilson, the director of the San Diego Police Officer Association, Friday was the first day back on patrol for Officer Zachary Martinez. "His recovery is truly a miracle," Wilson wrote in the post. PREVIOUS: Officer Martinez’ parents speak on his recovery at home after fiery pursuit crash On Aug. 26, 27-year-old Martinez and his partner, 30-year-old Officer Austin Machitar, were involved in a fiery crash in the area of 5200 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. just after 11:30 p.m. Officer Zach Martinez, who was injured in a fiery crash that killed his partner, Officer Austin Machitar, returned to duty on Dec. 20, 2024. (SDPOA) The crash happened after a high-speed pursuit along Clairemont Mesa Boulevard that was called off after the suspect vehicle, driven by 16-year-old Edgar Giovanny Oviedo, did not pull over for nearby patrols who were trying to conduct a traffic stop. Machitar succumbed to his injuries and died at the scene, while Martinez suffered critical injuries including burns, a broken neck and multiple facial injuries. Oviedo, who was driving without a license at the time of the incident, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicle records, died at the hospital. Martinez was treated at UC San Diego Health's regional burn center for about a week after being transferred from Sharp Memorial Hospital. He was discharged from the hospital in September. Following his release from the hospital, San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl stated Martinez would face a "long road to recovery" due to the extent of his injuries. “He’s always had a very compassionate heart,” his mother said in an interview with SDPD that was shared with KUSI back in September. “His calling was to help other people.”