James Branik, a California Highway Patrol officer whose recent assignment was at the commercial vehicle scales and inspection facility on U.S. 101, died Tuesday morning in a traffic accident in San Martin, according to authorities.
Branik, 44 of Morgan Hill, 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.
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, according to authorities.
The cause of the accident is under investigation, according to authorities. Alcohol or drugs do not appear to be a factor in the collision, according to the CHP.
Anyone with information about the accident can contact CHP Officer Sean Nichols at (408) 848-2324.
