Retired Santa Cruz Co. Sheriff's Deputy Killed in SoCal Crash

A retired Santa Cruz County sheriff's deputy was struck and killed by a semi-truck off of a San Bernardino County freeway last Friday. Robert Costere, 66, of Aptos, died in the crash on westbound state Highway 10 in Colton shortly after 10:30 p.m., California Highway Patrol officials said.

Costere parked a 2008 Ford F-250 on the right shoulder near lanes, where a 2014 Peterbuilt big-rig hauling a tanker trailer drifted onto the shoulder and hit him, CHP officials said. The semi-truck driver, a 38-year-old Ontario man, stopped and tried to help Costere, who died from his injuries, according to the CHP.

Costere worked with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office for more than 30 years and retired almost 11 years ago. A GoFundMe page has been made to raise money for his funeral services, according to fundraiser
organizer Michael MacDonald, a Santa Cruz County sheriff's sergeant.

The retired deputy leaves behind his wife, Carol, children and grandchildren, according to MacDonald.
Costere had left Hemet in Riverside County for the Ontario International Airport to pick up his daughter and grandson before the crash, MacDonald said.

Costere was a field training officer and one of the first members who served on the sheriff's bomb team, MacDonald said. Costere also co-founded Stars of Justice, a nonprofit organization under the Santa Cruz County Deputy Sheriffs' Association, and helped organize the group's charity rodeo, according to MacDonald.

The retired deputy was a gregarious, caring and funny person, said sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Chris Clark on his experience in working with Costere through the nonprofit and charity rodeo.

The online fundraiser created on Wednesday has collected $6,295 of its $30,000 goal as of this afternoon. Contributions can be made online at https://www.gofundme.com/the-bob-costere-memorial-fund.

By Bay City News

Photo courtesy GoFundMe