An off-duty Los Angeles police officer and father of five children died early this morning in a crash that detectives say remains under investigation.

Department officials did not immediately release the identity of the officer but said he was a veteran with more than 20 years on the job. He was assigned to the LAPD's northeast division.

The officer had just left work on his own motorcycle when the accident occurred about 2:30 a.m. near Fletcher Drive and Larga Avenue in Atwater Village, about a quarter mile from the police station. He was taken by ambulance to Glendale Memorial Hospital, where he died of his injuries.

Initial reports described the incident as a hit-and-run, but investigators said they are also looking into whether it was a solo accident.

[Updated, 2:45 p.m.: The officer was identified as Kenneth Aragon, 47, who was head of the Police Athletic League. He was also involved with a youth outreach program that took at-risk kids to the beach and involved them in other activities.]

Click here to read the LAPPL's response to the sad news of Officer Aragon's death.