Crash Kills S.B. County Deputy

A San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy responding to a traffic accident was killed Tuesday when his motorcycle collided with a car on Arrow Highway in Rancho Cucamonga, authorities said.

Deputy Daniel Lobo, 34, an 11-year veteran of the department and the father of three, was on his motorcycle responding to an accident near the intersection of Arrow Highway and Etiwanda Avenue. He struck a car that had pulled out of a business-complex driveway in the 12400 block of Arrow Highway.

Lobo and two other sheriff’s units had their sirens on and emergency lights flashing when the collision occurred, authorities said.

One sheriff’s motorcycle deputy was able to veer around the moving car, but Lobo’s motorcycle smashed into it, throwing him about 50 feet.

The accident occurred at 3:25 p.m.; Lobo was declared dead at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton 47 minutes later.

San Bernardino County Sheriff Gary Penrod was at the hospital when Lobo died.

Lobo’s death was the second fatality involving a Rancho Cucamonga-based motorcycle officer in 13 months. Ronald Ives was killed in September 2004.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has suffered two other traffic-related deaths this year. Det. William Mansfield was killed in March while bicycling in Victorville, and Deputy Greg Gariepy was killed when his patrol vehicle rolled over on Highway 247 in Yucca Valley in June.

“[Penrod] had a difficult time,” sheriff’s spokeswoman Cindy Beavers said. “We’re all so close and tight. We have thousands of employees, but there’s a special bond among us, no lines drawn. And when we lose somebody, no matter how well we know them, it hurts.”

Lobo, a Rialto resident, had been assigned to the Rancho Cucamonga station since 1998, and began motorcycle patrols within the last year, Beavers said. He is survived by his wife and three daughters, ages 13, 11 and an infant, Beavers said.

In June, Lobo rode in a benefit motorcycle ride that the Sheriff’s Department sponsored to support survivors of fallen peace officers.

The driver of the car that Lobo hit was interviewed, but not cited or arrested, Beavers said. The sheriff’s Major Accident Investigation Team is exploring details of the crash, including the speed of Lobo’s motorcycle at the time of the crash.