Lieutenant Michael Elvin Walker

Michael Elvin Walker

Lieutenant Michael Walker was struck and killed by a vehicle while at the scene of an earlier accident on state Highway 17 near Santa Cruz. The previous accident occurred when a vehicle lost control on the wet road surface and went into a ditch.

Lieutenant Walker, his partner, and a CalTrans employee had responded to the scene to investigate the accident and to help free the vehicle from the ditch. As Lieutenant Walker set out flares another vehicle lost control on the wet road surface and struck the back of the CalTrans truck. The truck was pushed forward and struck Lieutenant Walker. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries one hour later.

A CalTrans employee was also struck and seriously injured by the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle, who was driving too fast for the wet conditions, was killed in the accident.

Lieutenant Walker had served with the California Highway Patrol for 24 years. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

On May 30, 2008, exactly 27 years after Lt. Walker was called to attend the CHP Academy, a section of State Route 17 encompassing the accident site was renamed "CHP Lt. Michael Walker Memorial Highway".