A California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer was killed Monday evening in a crash on Highway 99 in California’s Central Valley.
Officer Brian Liles, 44, was riding his department motorcycle northbound on Highway 99 near Tipton in Tulare County when he was involved in a collision around 5:11 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.
Liles suffered critical injuries and died at the scene despite lifesaving efforts by first responders. Other reports indicate he collided with a truck-tractor before being thrown from his motorcycle and subsequently struck by another vehicle. The CHP’s Central Division accident investigation team is handling the investigation. (CBS News)
Liles was a 16-year veteran of the CHP and was assigned to the agency’s Visalia Area office. He joined the CHP after graduating from its academy in 2010 and previously served in San Jose, Hayward and Fresno before transferring to Visalia in 2019. (Los Angeles Times)
He leaves behind a wife and two children, along with his parents and two sisters. (Governor of California)
The Risks of Riding on the Job
Motorcycle officers face many of the same dangers as civilian riders—but often while working in traffic, responding to calls, making stops and operating in unpredictable roadway conditions.
A motorcycle offers little protection when a crash occurs. Even a collision that might leave someone inside a passenger vehicle with relatively minor injuries can have devastating consequences for a motorcyclist.
For Liles, a routine workday ended with the ultimate price.
His death is also the first line-of-duty loss for the California Highway Patrol since 2020. (Governor of California)
The CHP extended its condolences to Liles’ family, friends and fellow officers, remembering him for his dedication to public service and protecting California’s communities.
Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered flags at the State Capitol and Capitol Annex Swing Space to be flown at half-staff in Liles’ honor. (Governor of California)
For those who ride, the death of a motorcycle officer is a sobering reminder of just how vulnerable riders can be—even when they’re trained professionals, wearing protective equipment and doing everything they’re supposed to do.
Rest in peace, Officer Brian Liles. Ride on.