Bay Area CHP Officer Killed In Christmas Eve Crash Identified

HAYWARD, CA — A Bay Area CHP officer was killed and another injured when a driver in a red Cadillac crashed into a patrol car parked in the right shoulder of I-880 in Hayward overnight, CHP officials said at a press conference Monday.

"This is not the way we wanted to celebrate Christmas day," CHP Assistant Chief Ernie Sanchez said at the press conference. "It's definitely not the way we wanted the community to think of the 2017 Christmas day holiday."

Sanchez identified the officer as 33-year-old Andrew Camilleri who had been with the CHP for a year and four months. Camilleri leaves behind a wife and three children aged 12, 6 and 2. Camilleri was assigned to the Hayward Area office after graduating from the CHP Academy in March.

According to Sanchez, Camilleri and his partner, Jonathan Velasquez, stopped on the I-880 while on patrol. Sanchez said the two officers were hit by a person "who chose to be irresponsible," and is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The person was identified as a 22-year-old Hayward resident.

Sanchez said authorities had enough evidence to charge the individual with serious felony charges once he is released from the hospital.

"Today we lost not only a hero but a son, a brother, husband and a father to a senseless act," Captain Tim Pearson of the Hayward area CHP unit said. Pearson said Camilleri was a great man who loved his job and loved his family.

Camilleri and Velasquez were on patrol as part of the CHP's "maximum enforcement patrol," or MEP. The two were parked on the right shoulder of the highway when a car that CHP officials said was traveling at a very high rate of speed drifted off the road and hit them from behind. Velasquez was seated in the driver's seat of the patrol vehicle and Camilleri was in the passenger's seat. Both officers were wearing their seat belts.

Velasquez was released after being treated at a local hospital.

The driver of the red Cadillac is still in the hospital and his name has not been released.

“Anne and I are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic loss of Officer Camilleri, who died yesterday while working to keep our communities safe," California Gov. Jerry Brown said in a statement. "We join his family, friends and the entire California Highway Patrol in mourning his death and in honoring his sacrifice.”

Flags at the state capitol will be flown at half-staff.

Patch will update this report.

Image via CHP