|
Published on the KSBY - November 4, 2009
Hundreds of people gather to say goodbye to a local California Highway Patrol officer killed in a motorcycle accident last week.
30-year-old officer Jarrod Martinez died October 29th. That is when investigators say his motorcycle collided with a car at the intersection of Foxen Canyon Road and Steele Street in Los Olivos. Wednesday afternoon, a public memorial was held for Officer Martinez at the Sunken Garden in Santa Barbara.
His co-workers say he was living his dream as a CHP officer and although he died at such a young age, he died doing a job he loved.
Streets were blocked off in downtown Santa Barbara as a motorcade passed by to honor the fallen officer.
Officer Martinez married his high school sweetheart, Tricia, at the Sunken Garden-the same place where his friends and family gathered for his emotional goodbye.
"We lost Jarrod in an instance. So sudden without warning, he was gone," said Commissioner Joe Farrow of the California Highway Patrol.
Colleagues described Martinez as a man proud to wear his uniform, but more importantly, a man devoted to his wife and 4-year-old daughter, Julia.
"Julia, while you tragically lost your father, you have gained over 7,000 new uniformed aunts and uncles," said Capt. Jeff Sgobba.
Among the most tearful goodbyes came from fellow co-worker, officer James Studebaker.
"He was a great partner and even a greater friend. I'm honored and blessed to have worked alongside him," Ofr. Studebaker said.
Studebaker and Martinez graduated from academy together and learned together during their first year with the CHP.
"I will forever cherish the time we spent together, two new officers just trying to help each other find our way through the dark," Ofr. Studebaker said.
Officer Martinez grew up in Santa Barbara. He was just two days short of his one year anniversary with the CHP.
A trust fund has been set up in Officer Martinez's name. It is at Wells Fargo Bank under "Jarrod John Martinez Memorial 19081."
Published in the Lompoc Record - November 4, 2009
Four years ago, Jarrod and Trisha Martinez exchanged wedding vows in the Sunken Garden behind the Santa Barbara Courthouse.
With that special memory in mind, Trisha Martinez selected the Sunken Garden as the site of a memorial service Wednesday for her husband, a Santa Barbara-based California Highway Patrol officer who was killed Oct. 29 in an on-duty motorcycle crash in Los Olivos.
The garden was a sea of uniforms Wednesday afternoon, as CHP officers and other law enforcement personnel were a prominent presence among the hundreds who turned out for the funeral.
Two Santa Barbara County fire engines parked facing each other on Anapamu Street next to the Sunken Garden, an area which was blocked off to traffic, and an American flag was draped between the raised ladders of the two engines.
A large photo of Martinez, his wife and their 4-year-old daughter, Julia, all looking happy, sat near the podium.
A caravan of law-enforcement vehicles and family members of Martinez traveled to the service from the Earl Warren Showgrounds, and back to the showgrounds for a reception following the funeral.
CHP officers were the speakers at the service, giving at times tearful remembrances of Martinez as a man who loved being a CHP officer and was good at it.
The officers offered condolences and support to Martinez's family.
"Jarrod was a proud member of the highway patrol, and the highway patrol was equally proud (of) Jarrod," said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow.
Martinez, 30, who lived in Buellton, was driving home on his 1998 Honda after testifying in a traffic-court appearance in Santa Barbara, when he was thrown from his motorcycle after braking hard to avoid a collision with a 2009 Porsche driven by Curtis Seymour Smith, 68, of Solvang, according to the CHP.
Martinez landed in the roadway, and was struck and dragged underneath the car on Steele Street at Foxen Canyon Road, the CHP said. Martinez was riding his personal motorcycle, but was on duty when he died, according to the CHP.
He joined the Santa Barbara office of the CHP in 2008 as a new academy graduate.
No criminal charges have been filed in the crash, which remains under investigation by the CHP's Coastal Division Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT).
Farrow offered condolences to Martinez's family during his eulogy.
"I can tell by the bond of the family you have here, you will get through this together," he said.
Farrow said that Tricia Martinez had told him she was happy her husband did a job he desired to do.
"This is what he wanted. This is his dream," he said.
"There was so much more that awaited him," Farrow added.
Capt. Jeff Sgobba, commander of the Santa Barbara CHP office were Martinez worked, sang "Amazing Grace" while playing guitar earlier in the ceremony, and later spoke about the young officer.
Sgobba said he remembered Martinez having a big smile as a new officer at the Santa Barbara CHP office last year.
"He reminded me of a puppy who wags his tail so hard his whole hind end moves," he said.
Martinez had limitless potential as a CHP officer, Sgobba said, but was also blessed in his personal life.
"Jarrod's untimely death has left an indelible mark on the Santa Barbara area command," Sgobba said.
CHP Officer James Studebaker, who was paired with Martinez on night shifts, said his friend was a "loyal, honest, brave and kind man" who met challenges head-on.
"With his personality that was larger than life, it was impossible to be upset with him," Studebaker said.
His voice breaking with emotion, Studebaker said, "I am honored and blessed to have worked alongside him."
At the conclusion of the service, taps sounded and three World War II-vintage military planes zoomed overhead in salute.
Law-enforcement officers stood saluting as Martinez's family members walked by and into a limousine to go to the reception.
Published on the KEYT News - November 3, 2009
Santa Barbara, CA-- Funeral services are being held Wednesday for a local CHP Officer killed in a motorcycle crash last week.
30-year-old Jarrod Martinez of Buellton, died while on-duty last Thursday. The CHP says a Porsche crossed a double yellow line on Foxen Canyon Road, crashing into Martinez.
The driver of the Porsche was not arrested.
Martinez is survived by his wife and four-year-old daughter.
A public memorial service will begin at 1 p.m. at the Santa Barbara Courthouse Sunken Gardens.
A reception will follow at the Earl Warren Showgrounds, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
A motorcade procession will proceed from Earl Warren Show Grounds to the Sunken Garden at approximately 11:00 AM. For those wishing to pay their respects, the motorcade route is as follows:
Exit Earl Warren Show Grounds (South Exit)
Turn Left onto Calle Real
Turn Right onto Las Positas Road
Turn Left onto Highway 101 Southbound
Exit onto the Carrillo Street off-ramp
Turn Left onto Carrillo Street
Turn Left onto Santa Barbara Street
Following the service, at approximately 2:30 PM, a motorcade procession will proceed from the Sunken Garden to Earl Warren Show Grounds for a reception. The route is as follows:
Travel northbound on Santa Barbara Street until it ends
Turn left onto Constance Avenue
Turn Right onto State Street
Turn left onto Las Positas Road
Turn Right into the north entrance of Earl Warren Show Grounds (near Taliant Road)
Attendees are asked to proceed directly to the memorial location and utilize The Granada Garage located at 1221 Anacapa Street, directly behind the theatre between Anapamu and Victoria, as parking will be extremely limited at the memorial location.
A trust fund has been established in his name:
Wells Fargo Bank
195 N. Fairview Avenue
Goleta, CA 93117
(805)967-1242
“Jarrod John Martinez Memorial 19081”
Account # 2297657708
Published in the Daily Nexus - November 3, 2009
A memorial service will be held in Santa Barbara tomorrow for Jarrod Martinez, a California Highway Patrol officer who was killed last Thursday in Los Olivos.
Thirty-year-old Martinez was riding his personal motorcycle on his way back from court when a man driving a Porsche took a sharp turn and crossed into the officer’s lane. In an attempt to brake, Martinez lost control of the bike and was hit by the sports car, which dragged him 45 feet before coming to a stop.
Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to fellow CHP officer Michael Duenas, Martinez was wearing a helmet and proper riding attire and the accident did not involve alcohol.
Duenas said the CHP officers were distraught at the news of Martinez’s death.
“They’re all taking it very serious,” Duenas said. “It has hit home very hard for all of them. Any instance where you know somebody and the next you know you find out they were killed, it’s difficult to take.”
A memorial service will be held at the Sunken Garden, 1100 Anacapa Street in Santa Barbara at 1 p.m. Wednesday. A motorcade procession will leave the Earl Warren showground at 11 a.m. and proceed downtown.
Duenas said hundreds of officers from Santa Barbara and surrounding counties will attend the service.
“It’s going to be quite a procession,” Duenas said. “All the other L.A. agencies and CHP will be getting ready at the Earl Warren showground. Anytime you get someone killed on duty, you have a tremendous outpouring form allied agencies within the county and within the state.”
Martinez was a Santa Barbara native and graduate of San Marcos High School. He is survived by his wife and four-year-old daughter.
Published in the Lompoc Record - November 2, 2009
Law-enforcement officers and civilians will mourn together at a public memorial service Wednesday for California Highway Patrol Officer Jarrod Martinez, who died last week in a motorcycle accident.
Martinez, 30, of Buellton was driving home Thursday on his 1998 Honda motorcycle after testifying in a traffic-court appearance in Santa Barbara, when he was thrown from his motorcycle after braking hard to avoid a collision in Los Olivos, according to the CHP.
He was then struck and dragged by the car his motorcycle almost collided with on Steele Street's at Foxen Canyon Road, the CHP said.
Martinez was riding his personal motorcycle, but was on duty when he died, according to the CHP.
His funeral, which one CHP spokeswoman said could draw 1,000 mourners, is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Sunken Garden behind the Santa Barbara courthouse at 1100 Anacapa St.
A reception will follow from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real in Santa Barbara.
A motorcade procession will travel from the showgrounds to the Sunken Garden at about 11 a.m. before the services, and from the Sunken Garden back to the showgrounds around 2:30 p.m. after the funeral.
The CHP has asked those attending to park in the Granada Garage, 1221 Anacapa St., as parking will be limited at the memorial service location.
Local law-enforcement agencies said they will have members attending the services.
"You can be safe to say that we're sending folks from our division," said Lt. Rico Flores of the Santa Maria Police Department, noting that at least members of the traffic division would be there.
Officer Rob Wallace of the Santa Maria CHP office said some CHP officers out of Santa Maria were personal friends with Martinez.
Drew Sugars, spokesman for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department, said that a "significant" number of personnel from his agency were expected to attend the services.
Sgt. Danny Rios of the Lompoc Police Department said the agency would have members at the funeral.
"We're a small enough county that we're exposed to just about anyone and everyone in the profession," he said.
"There's a bond there just based on the profession," Rios added.
He said that the Lompoc Police Department's thoughts and prayers were with Martinez's friends and family.
Donations can be made to a trust fund established in Martinez's name, the Jarrod John Martinez Memorial 19081, set up at the Wells Fargo bank at 195 N. Fairview Ave. in Goleta. The bank can be reached at: (805) 967-1242. The account number is: 2297657708.
Martinez is survived by his wife, Trisha, and 4-year-old daughter Julia.
Published in the Santa Ynez Valley News - November 2, 2009
A 30-year-old California Highway Patrol officer killed in a motorcycle accident in Los Olivos was remembered by colleagues Friday as a young man whose career was maturing into a model of dedication to public service.
The fatal accident occurred Thursday as Officer Jarrod Martinez of Buellton was driving home on his 1998 Honda motorcycle after testifying in a traffic-court appearance in Santa Barbara, according to Capt. Jeff Sgobba, commander of the Santa Barbara CHP office where Martinez was assigned.
Martinez was struck and dragged by a 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera driven by Curtis Seymour Smith, 68, of Solvang at about 12:15 p.m., Sgobba said.
The accident occurred on Steele Street, where it connects to Foxen Canyon Road, on the south side of Highway 154.
According to the CHP report, Smith turned right off of eastbound Highway 154 onto Foxen Canyon, then cut the corner short as he turned onto Steele Street, “which caused his vehicle to be positioned on the wrong side of the road as he transitioned onto Steele Street.”
A row of trees obscured Smith’s line of sight as he made the turn, the CHP said.
Martinez, who was westbound on Steele, took evasive action and braked hard to avoid a collision, which caused him to be thrown from his red motorcycle. The Porsche then struck Martinez and dragged him under the undercarriage for about 45 feet, according to the CHP report.
An off-duty Santa Barbara County deputy medical examiner who happened to be in the area at the time of the crash rendered emergency aid, but Martinez died moments later, according to the CHP.
Smith is not believed to have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and no arrest was made, the CHP said.
Although he was riding his personal motorcycle, Martinez was on duty at the time of his death, the CHP said. He was wearing protective gear, such as a helmet, jacket, gloves and boots, the CHP said.
Officers from the Buellton CHP office and the agency’s Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team are handling the investigation.
Martinez’s death is more poignant as it involved one of their own, Sgobba said, adding that a renewed commitment by the men and women of the Santa Barbara CHP office will be their tribute.
A 1997 graduate of San Marcos High School, Martinez is survived by his wife Trisha and daughter Julia, 4.
Born in Massachusetts in 1979, Martinez moved to Santa Barbara in 1983. A skilled mechanic, Martinez worked on Audi, BMW and Porsche autos for Cutter Motors of Santa Barbara. He eventually transferred to a Sacramento Audi dealer. He entered the CHP Academy in April 2008 and graduated that October.
Sgobba said Martinez’s family was “thrilled and proud” that he had been assigned to the Santa Barbara CHP office. Watching Martinez blossom into a “model officer” through a high work ethic, upbeat attitude and easy-going personality was a pleasure, Sgobba said.
“He was a very, very solid young man,” he said. “The type who made the office and community better.”
A memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Garden at Anacapa and Anapamu streets in Santa Barbara.
On Friday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced capitol flags will be flown at half-staff in his honor.
A trust fund for Martinez’s family is being set up at Wells Fargo Bank.
Published in the Santa Barbara Independent - November 1, 2009
San Marcos High Grad Jarrod Martinez, 30, Dies On-Duty in Santa Ynez Valley Crash
California Highway Patrol Officer Jarrod Martinez died while on duty in a traffic collision near Los Olivos on Thursday, October 29, just two days prior to his one-year anniversary of graduating the academy.
The 30-year-old San Marcos High graduate was riding his personal motorcycle on the way home from testifying at a traffic hearing in Santa Barbara Superior Court. Martinez was nearly home on Thursday afternoon when the accident occurred, and was riding his motorcycle westbound on Steele Street approaching the intersection of Foxen Canyon Road.
A Porsche being driven by Curtis Smith, 68, of Solvang, was traveling eastbound on Highway 154 when he turned right onto Foxen Canyon Road. He positioned his vehicle to cut the corner as he turned onto Steele Street, according to the CHP collision report. “Rather than remaining within the southbound lane of Foxen Canyon Road to the right of the painted double yellow lines to a point where Steele Street was visible,” the CHP report explains, “Smith cut across the width of Foxen Canyon Road, which caused his vehicle to be positioned on the wrong side of the road as he transitioned onto Steele Street.”
Martinez saw the vehicle, whose driver may not have seen him because of a row of trees on the north shoulder of Steele Street, and braked heavily, causing him to be ejected from his motorcycle. Martinez was then dragged by the Porsche for about 45 feet, according to the CHP. An off-duty medical examiner stopped to render aid, but Martinez died at the scene.
CHP Capt. Jeff Sgobba, voice trembling as he spoke, recalled an energetic young man who was upbeat, outgoing, and eager to learn. He said Martinez had worked as an Audi mechanic at Cutter Motors in Santa Barbara, and later moved up to Sacramento to also work on Audis. He took a pay cut to work for the CHP, Sgobba said. “From day one his heart was in the right place,” Sgobba said. “He was a fine representative of the CHP.”
The incident put the area CHP office on its heels during the biggest weekend of the year, Halloween weekend, when several departments pitch in to deal with the huge Isla Vista party. Despite that, Sgobba said, other CHP offices and area law enforcement agencies have offered everything they can to help the CHP officers during this time.
Three officers from the same cadet class joined Martinez in the Santa Barbara CHP office. “Our area is basically reeling right now,” Sgobba said at a press conference, a photo of Martinez in uniform placed behind him.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Joyce Dudley worked with Martinez on his first fatality, that of 41-year-old Rosario Silvestre, who was killed in a crash involving drunk driver Fabian Maduena. Maduena was sentenced to 21 years in prison earlier this week for Silvestre’s death. “I felt he absolutely was a rising star at the CHP,” Dudley said, “because of his passion and work ethic and doing it the right way.”
The two traveled to the scene of the crime and the autopsy, where Dudley said Martinez soaked things up, asking a lot of questions. “It’s just a huge loss,” she said. “It’s just heartbreaking.”
In Sacramento, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger released a statement indicating flags at the Capitol would be flown at half-staff to remember Martinez. His CHP commissioner, Joe Farrow, met with officers in the Santa Barbara office earlier Friday. “Maria and I are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jarrod Martinez, who worked daily to protect his community,” Schwarzenegger said in a statement. “The Santa Barbara area is a better place because of his tireless service and we will never forget his dedication to public safety. On behalf of all Californians, we send our thoughts and prayers to Jarrod's family, friends and fellow officers.”
Martinez is survived by his wife, Trish, and their child, Julia. Both live in Buellton, along with Martinez's parents.
A 1 p.m. service on Wednesday, November 4 will celebrate the life of Martinez at the Courthouse Sunken Gardens.
Published in the Daily Sound - October 31, 2009
California Highway Patrol Officer Jarrod Martinez, a one-year rookie who just days ago wrapped up his first high-profile investigation, was killed on Thursday in a motorcycle accident in Los Olivos, authorities announced.
“This office is reeling today; we’re on our heels,” said Capt. Jeff Sgobba, commander of the Santa Barbara area CHP, where Martinez was assigned and thrived during his first year as an officer. “This is just a lesson for everyone in the frailty of life.”
Martinez, 30, was struck by a 2009 Porsche on Steele Street, a tree-lined road that crosses the southern tip of Foxen Canyon Road next to Highway 154. Vehicles often exit the highway onto Foxen Canyon Road and cut onto Steele Street as it bends into Los Olivos. But traffic on quiet Steele Street can be difficult to see.
Sgobba said the Porsche, driven by 68-year-old Curtis Seymour Smith, did just this, exiting the highway and turning sharply onto Steele Street, traveling for a brief time in the oncoming traffic lane.
Upon seeing the oncoming car, Sgobba said Martinez hit the brakes and flew off the bike, only to be hit by the passing car and dragged beneath it for approximately 45 feet. An off-duty medical examiner rendered first aid, but Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene.
The accident occurred at 12:15 p.m. Though Martinez was technically on duty, he was on his way home from work, riding his red, 1998 Honda motorcycle.
He had been subpoenaed to court in Santa Barbara earlier that morning, a regular part of the job for many law enforcement officers.
Before heading home to Buellton, Sgobba, who fought back tears throughout a news conference, said Martinez stopped by CHP headquarters to complete his application to become a motorcycle officer, but “didn’t make it home.”
A rookie officer, Martinez graduated from the CHP academy one year ago today, and was stationed at the Santa Barbara office a few days later.
Sgobba said Martinez decided to enlist in the CHP after several years as a top-notch Audi mechanic at Cutter Motors on Hope Avenue, where he started working after graduating from San Marcos High School in 1997.
Being stationed in his home county, Sgobba said, was a testament to Martinez’s stellar performance at the academy.
“Here’s a kid coming home,” he said, “thrilled to be here. He just couldn’t wait to come to work and help people.”
Sgobba said Martinez quickly found his niche in investigative work, and last March, got his first chance to shine. He became the lead investigator in a fatal vehicle accident, in which the suspect, 21-year-old Fabian Maduena, was charged with vehicular manslaughter, driving without a license or insurance and fleeing the scene of an accident.
Martinez helped piece together a complicated crime scene, which unraveled just before 9:30 p.m. on March 7 when dispatchers received calls that a white Mercedes was traveling a high rate of speed southbound on Highway 101 near Fairview Avenue. As the Mercedes, driven by Maduena, neared the Fairview under crossing, it clipped the driver’s rear side of a white Volkswagen sedan, bumping the car off the roadway where it hit an asphalt berm, causing the vehicle to flip an undetermined number of times before coming to a rest on its wheels in the brush along the roadway.
As the Volkswagen was flipping, 41-year-old Rosario Silvestre, who was not wearing her seatbelt, was ejected and killed.
Meanwhile, Maduena left the scene, only to be spotted pulled over several miles from the away. Prosecutors say Maduena stopped his car only after the hood popped up, blocking his vision.
In September, Maduena, of Hollister, Calif., pleaded guilty to several of the charges, and earlier this week, was sentenced to 21 years in prison.
“It was a thrill to watch him progress,” Sgobba said. “[He] was an officer who truly had his whole career ahead of him.”
Smith, the driver of the Porsche, was not arrested, and as of yesterday, had not been cited, Sgobba said. However, he stressed that the investigation is ongoing and charges might well be filed.
The CHP commissioner stopped by CHP headquarters yesterday to speak with officers, Sgobba said, and even spent some time with Martinez’s widow, Patricia.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a statement, and noted that in honor of Martinez, flags at the state capitol would be flown at half-staff.
Though his time in the CHP was brief, Martinez seemed to make a strong impression on Sgobba and his colleagues. Sgobba described the man as “a sponge waiting to take it all in,” “someone who always had a smile,” and “a kid with tremendous amount of potential and tremendous upside.”
“It’s going to sting for a very long time,” he said. “We’re certainly never going to forget Jarrod Martinez.”
Martinez is survived by his wife and 4-year-old daughter, Julia. A funeral service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Courthouse Sunken Gardens.
Published in the Lompoc Record - October 30, 2009
A 30-year-old California Highway Patrol officer killed in a motorcycle accident in Los Olivos was remembered by colleagues Friday as a young man whose career was maturing into a model of dedication to public service.
The fatal accident occurred Thursday as Officer Jarrod Martinez of Buellton was driving home on his 1998 Honda motorcycle after testifying in a traffic-court appearance in Santa Barbara, according to Capt. Jeff Sgobba, commander of the Santa Barbara CHP office where Martinez was assigned.
Martinez was struck and dragged by a 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera driven by Curtis Seymour Smith, 68, of Solvang at about 12:15 p.m., Sgobba said.
The accident occurred on Steele Street, where it connects to Foxen Canyon Road, on the south side of Highway 154.
According to the CHP report, Smith turned right off of eastbound Highway 154 onto Foxen Canyon, then cut the corner short as he turned onto Steele Street, "which caused his vehicle to be positioned on the wrong side of the road as he transitioned onto Steele Street."
A row of trees obscured Smith's line of sight as he made the turn, the CHP said.
Martinez, who was westbound on Steele, took evasive action and braked hard to avoid a collision, which caused him to be thrown from his red motorcycle. The Porsche then struck Martinez and dragged him under the undercarriage for about 45 feet, according to the CHP report.
An off-duty Santa Barbara County deputy medical examiner who happened to be in the area at the time of the crash rendered emergency aid, but Martinez died moments later, according to the CHP.
Smith is not believed to have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and no arrest was made, the CHP said.
Although he was riding his personal motorcycle, Martinez was on duty at the time of his death, the CHP said. He was wearing protective gear, such as a helmet, jacket, gloves and boots, the CHP said.
Officers from the Buellton CHP office and the agency's Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team are handling the investigation.
Martinez's death is more poignant as it involved one of their own, Sgobba said, adding that a renewed commitment by the men and women of the Santa Barbara CHP office will be their tribute.
A 1997 graduate of San Marcos High School, Martinez is survived by his wife, Trisha, and daughter Julia, 4.
Born in Massachusetts in 1979, Martinez moved to Santa Barbara in 1983. A skilled mechanic, Martinez worked on Audi, BMW and Porsche autos for Cutter Motors of Santa Barbara. He eventually transferred to a Sacramento Audi dealer. He entered the CHP Academy in April 2008 and graduated that October.
Sgobba said Martinez's family was "thrilled and proud" that he had been assigned to the Santa Barbara CHP office. Watching Martinez blossom into a "model officer" through a high work ethic, upbeat attitude and easy-going personality was a pleasure, Sgobba said.
"He was a very, very solid young man," he said. "The type who made the office and community better."
A memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Garden at Ancapa and Anapamu streets in Santa Barbara.
On Friday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger released a statement announcing capitol flags will be flown at half-staff in his honor.
A trust fund for Martinez's family is being set up at Wells Fargo Bank.
Published in the Noozhawk - October 30, 2009
An on-duty California Highway Patrol officer died Thursday after trying to avoid a collision with an oncoming vehicle on Foxen Canyon Road at Steele Street in Los Olivos.
About 12:15 p.m. Thursday, Officer Jarrod John Martinez, 30, of Buellton, was on his motorcycle as he returned home from traffic court. He was headed westbound on Steele Street, approaching the intersection, according to CHP spokesman James Richards.
Meanwhile, Solvang resident Curtis Seymour Smith, 68, driving a 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera, was approaching the same intersection from Foxen Canyon Road. According to the CHP, Smith cut across the width of Foxen Canyon Road, positioning his vehicle on the wrong side of the road as he turned onto Steele Street.
Martinez braked to avoid the vehicle, but his motorcycle slid out from under him and he struck the right front corner of Smith’s Porshe. The officer was dragged by the undercarriage of the vehicle for about 45 feet before Smith could stop the vehicle, according to CHP.
Witnesses called 9-1-1. An off-duty deputy medical examiner traveling in the area arrived at the scene and attempted to render aid to Martinez, who died minutes later.
Martinez is survived by his wife, Patricia, and 4-year-old daughter Julia. A trust fund is being established for the family at Wells Fargo Bank.
The Buellton CHP and the Coastal Division Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team are investigating. No arrest has been made, and CHP said neither alcohol nor drugs appear to be a factor in the crash.
In Memory of Officer Jarrod John Martinez
Return to Menu
|
Highway Patrol/State Police Memorial
