James Branik, a Morgan Hill resident and a California Highway Patrol officer remembered as a “leader” by his commander, died Tuesday morning in a traffic accident in San Martin, according to authorities.
Branik, 44, was off duty riding a Suzuki motorcycle at the time of the collision on Monterey Road Sept. 19.
About 5:51 a.m., the driver of a Chevrolet pickup was traveling north in the left-turn lane on Monterey Road, just south of Chester Avenue. For an “unknown reason,” the pickup driver—a 47-year-old Gilroy man—turned left directly into the path of Branik’s motorcycle which was traveling south on Monterey Road, according to a press release from CHP Officer Chris Miceli.
The motorcycle hit the right front side of the pickup, according to authorities. Branik suffered major injuries as a result of the collision and was pronounced dead at the scene when paramedics arrived.
Branik started working for the CHP in 2005, according to his commanding officer, CHP Lt. Robb Kaczor. At the time of his death, Branik was assigned to the Gilroy Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility, which is located on U.S. 101 in San Martin. He began that assignment in 2010.
Specifically, Branik’s role was a mobile road enforcement officer. This post included patrolling county roads and freeways in the area of the weigh station for vehicle safety violations, making traffic stops and issuing citations, according to Kaczor, the commanding officer at the San Martin facility.
“He was a leader in commercial vehicle safety knowledge, including both state and federal laws,” Kaczor said. “He was a resource for me and his peers with commercial vehicle (enforcement) questions.”
In his personal life, Branik was a motorcycle enthusiast. “He passed away on his personal motorcycle this morning,” Kaczor added.
Branik grew up in San Jose and was “happily married,” Kaczor said. He is survived by his parents and wife.
The Hollister-Gilroy area CHP issued the following statement on its Facebook page following Branik’s death: “It is with great sadness that the Hollister-Gilroy Area office has to report that CHP Officer James Branik was involved in a motor vehicle collision this morning that took his life. Although James was assigned to the Gilroy Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility at the time of his death, many of us here at the Hollister-Gilroy Area office worked side by side with him in the field over the past several years or worked with him when he was assigned to the San Jose Area office. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family. He will be truly missed!”
The cause of the Sept. 19 accident is under investigation, according to authorities. Alcohol or drugs do not appear to be a factor in the collision.
Anyone with information about the accident can contact CHP Officer Sean Nichols at (408) 848-2324.
