Crime & Safety
San Jose Police Officer Dies In Traffic Collision
A San Jose police officer was killed in a traffic collision while riding a motorcycle on-duty in San Jose Tuesday afternoon.
SAN JOSE - Police Officer Michael Katherman was killed in a traffic collision while riding a motorcycle on-duty in San Jose Tuesday afternoon, according to Chief Eddie Garcia.
"It's with great sadness that I inform you this community has lost an officer in the line of duty," Garcia said during a news conference at the police department Tuesday night.
The crash was reported at 4:22 p.m. on North 10th Street at Horning Street.
Find out what's happening in Los Gatosfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Katherman was headed north on his motorcycle when he collided with a southbound minivan.
The man driving was attempting to make a left turn onto eastbound Horning Street when the collision occurred.
Find out what's happening in Los Gatosfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A Good Samaritan who witnessed the crash stopped to help, using Katherman's radio to summon paramedics to the scene.
Katherman was transported to a hospital and pronounced dead, however.
The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with the subsequent investigation.
Police have not identified him.
Katherman was an 11-year veteran of the department, Garcia said, and father of two children.
He was a member of the traffic enforcement unit on a routine patrol of the city at the time of the crash.
-Bay City News, image via ShutterStock