A California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer died in an on-duty traffic collision on September 28 on State Route 99 just north of State Route 190 in Tipton. Officer Brian Liles, 44, sustained critical injuries at approximately 5:11 p.m. and died at the scene despite lifesaving efforts, according to the CHP. His death marked the first line-of-duty loss for the CHP since 2020.
Liles was a more-than-16-year veteran of the California Highway Patrol. He was assigned to the agency's San Jose Area in 2010 after graduating from the CHP Academy. He previously served the communities of Hayward and Fresno before transferring to the Visalia Area office in 2019.
Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statement regarding Liles's death. "Officer Brian Liles dedicated his life to serving our communities, and his passing is a heartbreaking loss for the California Highway Patrol and the entire state of California," Newsom said.
Liles is survived by his wife, two children, his parents, and two sisters. Flags at the State Capitol and Capitol Annex Swing Space will be flown at half-staff in his honor.