San Diego County Sheriff's Department, California
End of Watch: Sunday, February 28, 2010
Age: 39
Tour of Duty: 12 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Vehicle pursuit
Date of Incident: February 28, 2010
Weapon Used: Automobile
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 7.5 years in prison
Deputy Ken Collier was killed in a single-vehicle accident during a pursuit.
Deputy Collier was heading west on Route 52 from Santee when he spotted a wrong-way driver coming at him and reported the incident to his dispatcher. He turned around and was trying to overtake the driver when the squad car struck an abutment and rolled down a hill. A dispatcher riding with the deputy was injured in the accident. Deputy Collier was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries.
The driver of the wrong-way vehicle was caught nearby and was charged with vehicular manslaughter and drunken driving. He was sentenced to seven years, eight months in prison.
Deputy Collier had served with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department for nine years. He had previously served with the San Diego County Marshal's Office for three years. He is survived by his fiancee, brother, and sister.
The bridge Deputy Collier was traveling on was renamed "Deputy Sheriff Kenneth James Collier Memorial Bridge/Oak Canyon Bridge."