Countywide : Agencies to Salute Dead CHP Officer
The first California Highway Patrol officer from Ventura County to die in the line of duty in more than five years will be honored in services Tuesday by a procession of officers from more than 500 police agencies.
Officer James O’Connor, 34, was killed Thursday night after a car traveling outside Santa Ynez struck his motorcycle head-on. O’Connor was returning from a training session with three colleagues.
The car’s driver, Ella Harrison, 78, of Solvang, was in fair condition Friday night at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara.
Her husband, Fredrick Harrison, 79, was in serious but stable condition at Santa Ynez Valley Hospital.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Magdalen Church, Crestview Avenue and Las Posas Road, in Camarillo.
From there, the 500-officer motorcade will proceed to O’Connor’s burial at Valley Oaks Memorial Park on Lindero Canyon Road off the Ventura Freeway in Westlake Village.
In lieu of flowers, O’Connor’s family requests that donations be made to the 11-99 Foundation in his name.
The accident is under investigation, and officials would not comment Friday whether action will be taken against Ella Harrison.
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