SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Officials have released the name of a veteran California Highway Patrol officer who was killed in an off-duty motorcycle crash, while his colleagues remembered him as a dedicated public servant.
John Fanene died after the motorcycle he was riding clipped a pickup truck that had turned in front of him on Highway 12 near Fairfield around 5:45 p.m. Friday, said CHP Sgt. Diana McDermott.
The impact knocked Fanene off his Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle, his personal motorcycle, and he was hit by a car traveling in the opposite direction.
Fanene, 38, was pronounced dead at the scene. A resident of Napa, he had been a CHP officer for 14 years and was assigned to the CHP truck scales alongside Interstate 80 in Fairfield.
"John was a fun-loving co-worker, with a big heart," said CHP Lt. Mike Ferrell, who worked with him at the truck scales.
"He was obviously very good at what he did and took his job very seriously, especially when it came to saving lives," Ferrell said.
Another colleague, CHP Sgt. Amy Mulata, described Fanene as "having a great sense of professionalism, who wore his badge with pride."
Fanene was not married and had no children, his colleagues said. Services were pending.
The Friday evening accident shut down Highway 12 in both directions for several hours, with traffic re-routed through nearby roadways.
The incident remains under investigation, but no arrests have been made, and drugs or alcohol were not believed to be a factor in the crash, the CHP said.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.