TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) — The California Highway Patrol officer who was killed in a Tulare County crash has been identified.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has identified the CHP officer killed as 44-year-old Brian Liles, a 16-year veteran with the agency. This is the first CHP loss in the line of duty since 2020.
“Officer Brian Liles dedicated his life to serving our communities, and his passing is a heartbreaking loss for the California Highway Patrol and the entire state of California,” Gov. Newsom said in a news release on Monday. “Jennifer and I are deeply saddened by his tragic loss and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and CHP colleagues. He will be remembered for his dedication to serving and protecting the people of California.”
The governor’s office says the crash happened just after 5 p.m. Monday on northbound Highway 99 and Highway 190 near Tipton.
Officer Liles suffered major injuries, and despite life-saving efforts, he died at the scene.
The crash forced a full closure of the freeway and multiple law enforcement units remain on scene.
Officer Liles was assigned to the San Jose area in 2010 after graduating from the CHP Academy. He then served the communities of Hayward and Fresno before transferring to Visalia in 2019.
Officer Liles is survived by his wife, two children, parents and two sisters.
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