Memorial Funds For Fallen CHP Officer Launched

HAYWARD, CA – Two memorial funds were established this week for the family of California Highway Patrol Officer Andrew Camilleri, 33, who died on Christmas Eve in Hayward when his patrol car was struck by another vehicle driven by a suspected impaired driver.

On Sunday at 11:32 p.m., Camilleri, of Tracy, and another CHP officer were inside a patrol car that was parked on the right shoulder of southbound Interstate Highway 880 in Hayward near the Winton Avenue on-ramp. As the officers patrolled the highway, a speeding red Cadillac hit the back of their patrol car.

"An errant driver drifted off the road from I-880 and struck the right rear of the patrol vehicle. Both officers suffered injuries in the collision and were transported to the hospital where tragically, Officer Camilleri was pronounced deceased," CHP officials said on Facebook.

The 22-year-old Hayward man driving the Cadillac was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and marijuana. He was taken to a hospital in serious condition, CHP officials said. His name has not yet been released.

CHP officials opened a memorial for Camilleri, a husband and father, who began his CHP career in August 2016, through the CHP Credit Union, available at https://cahpcu.org/donation-to-officer-camilleri/.

Donations also can be made by sending a check to P.O. Box 276507, Sacramento, CA 95827. Checks can be made payable to "Officer Camilleri Memorial Fund."

A second fundraiser, entitled "CHP Officer Andrew Camilleri," was launched on GoFundMe by an individual who said he was among those at the accident scene.

"My wife, daughter and I were first on scene and provided medical attention to both him and his partner Johnathan," the man wrote on the site . "We are all (devastated) by the events and would like to do what we can to help Andrew's family on this Christmas Day. Please donate what you can. Money will go into a fund to help the children secure their future. All proceeds will go directly to the family through the CAHP benevolence fund."

Flags were flown half-staff on Tuesday in honor of Camilleri, and KRON reported his body was transferred to a Tracy funeral home. Police officers and firefighters lined freeway overpasses in Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore to salute the fallen officer.

Camilleri is survived by his wife, Rosanna, three children, a daughter and two sons ages 12, 6 and 2, his parents, a brother and a sister.

• ALSO SEE: AAA Offers Free Tows On New Year's Eve In NorCal

--Bay City News and Hoa Quatch, Patch contributed to this report/Photo courtesy of California Highway Patrol