Memorial Service Set For South Bay CHP Officer Killed In Off-Duty Motorcycle Crash

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — A funeral service for a California Highway Patrol officer who was killed in an off-duty motorcycle collision last week will be held Friday in Morgan Hill, according to the CHP. The service for CHP Officer James Branik will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center at 17000 Monterey St., according to CHP Officer Chris Miceli. The public is invited to attend.

Branik, 44, of Morgan Hill, was assigned to the CHP's Gilroy Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility in San Martin. He died after colliding with a 2013 Chevrolet pickup truck early Tuesday morning, Sept. 19 near San Martin on Monterey Highway just south of Chester Avenue.

According to the CHP, the pickup turned from a left-turn lane heading north into the path of Branik's 2005 Suzuki motorcycle, which was traveling south.

Branik hit the right side of the pickup in the collision, which was reported at 5:51 a.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

• Off-Duty CHP Officer Dies In Motorcycle Crash Near San Martin
  

Branik's supervisor, CHP Sgt. Erica Elias, called him the "go-to guy." Branik had worked at the San Martin scales off Highway 101 since 2010, Elias said.

"He was one of the most knowledgeable officers here," Elias told Patch. "Everyone here is going to miss him."

He first went to work for the CHP in 2005 as a patrol officer assigned to San Jose, where he later worked as a field training officer for new recruits at the San Jose CHP academy, Elias said. Prior to that, he worked for the United States Postal Service as a mail carrier, she said.

Branik is survived by his wife, of Morgan Hill; his parents, of San Jose; a sister and brother-in-law, of Morgan Hill; and numerous nephews and nieces, Elias said.

As of Monday afternoon, there was no update on the investigation into the collision that claimed his life. According to Miceli, alcohol and drugs are not considered factors.

Anyone with information about the collision is encouraged to call CHP Officer Sean Nichol at 408-848-2324.

Branik's family requests that anyone wishing to make a monetary donation can donate to the CHP 11-99 Foundation in his name at Chp11-99.org.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Photo courtesy California Highway Patrol Gilroy Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility