CHP Officer, 34, Killed in Accident

A California Highway Patrol officer returning to Ventura County was killed on a two-lane road outside Santa Ynez on Thursday when a car crossed the center line and struck his motorcycle head-on, authorities said.

Officer James O’Connor, 34, of Camarillo was rounding a curve on California 154 with three other motorcycle officers when the accident occurred at 3:25 p.m.

The car’s driver, Ella Harrison, 78, of Solvang, was taken to Santa Ynez Valley Hospital in Solvang in critical condition. She was later transferred to Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, a nursing supervisor said.

The driver’s husband, Fredrick Harrison, 79, received moderate injuries and was in fair condition at Santa Ynez Valley Hospital on Thursday night.

O’Connor was riding in the left rear position of a box formation as the four officers passed Armour Ranch Road. Harrison’s car veered into the path of the motorcyclists. Three of the four officers managed to swerve, but O’Connor was struck head-on.

Authorities said O’Connor was thrown 60 feet and his helmet was knocked from his head by the impact, CHP spokeswoman Linda Moriarity said. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Santa Ynez Valley Hospital.

The four motorcycle officers were returning from a quarterly training session at Santa Maria Airport. Moriarity said O’Connor was in training for the protective services unit, which provides security for visiting dignitaries traveling on area highways.

O’Connor’s wife, Carla, is a CHP officer in western San Fernando Valley, and they have three daughters. O’Connor joined the CHP in late 1982 and was assigned to western San Fernando Valley until August, 1989, when he was transferred to Ventura County.

Officer James Utter, CHP spokesman for Ventura County, said O’Connor’s colleagues were too upset Thursday night to discuss O’Connor’s death.

California 154 runs through Los Padres National Forest from the Ventura Freeway west of Santa Barbara and rejoins the same highway near Los Olivos.

The CHP closed the highway at 4 p.m., and it remained closed at 10 p.m.

Jack Searles and Times staff writer Miles Corwin contributed to this story.