COUNTYWIDE : Charges Weighed in CHP Officer’s Death

Results of an investigation into the death of a Ventura County California Highway Patrol officer who was killed in November when a car struck his motorcycle were released Wednesday and will be forwarded to the Santa Barbara County district attorney’s office, authorities said.

Ella Harrison, 78, of Solvang could be arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter without gross malice or negligence in the death of James Christopher O’Connor, 34, of Camarillo, CHP Officer Marc Combs said. She also violated the vehicle code by driving left of a solid line, he said.

The preliminary report of the investigation, which was completed by a special CHP team in Fresno, will be reviewed by CHP offices in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Buellton before findings are sent to the district attorney’s office to determine whether to file charges, Combs said. Harrison has not been arrested, he said.

Toxicology reports showed that neither O’Connor nor Harrison had consumed detectable amounts of alcohol or drugs, Combs said.

Harrison was traveling west on California 154 on Nov. 15 when she crossed the solid center line and ran head-on into O’Connor’s motorcycle, the investigation found. The reason she crossed the line is not known, Combs said.

O’Connor, an eight-year CHP veteran, was returning with three other officers from a motorcycle training session in Santa Maria when the accident occurred, CHP officials said.