Funeral set for CHP officer killed in crash

A public funeral service is scheduled for Friday in Morgan Hill in honor of California Highway Patrol Officer James Branik, who died last week in a motorcycle collision in San Martin while heading to work.

The service is set to begin at 2:30 p.m. at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center at 17000 Monterey St.

Branik was off-duty and riding his personal motorcycle southbound on Monterey Highway about 5:51 a.m. Sept. 19 when a northbound Chevrolet pickup truck made a left turn into his path south of Chester Avenue, according to the CHP.

Branik’s 2005 Suzuki motorcycle collided with the front of the truck, and the impact inflicted severe injuries to the veteran CHP officer. He died at the scene.

The pickup driver, a 47-year-old Gilroy resident, stopped after the collision and was not immediately arrested or cited. The fatal crash remains under investigation, and the CHP said alcohol or drugs do not appear to be a factor in the case.

Branik was remembered as a dedicated officer who was a mentor to many of his colleagues in the San Jose CHP office, where he worked until a few years ago when he transferred to the Gilroy Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility off Highway 101 between Morgan Hill and Gilroy.

Per family wishes, donations in Branik’s memory may be made in his name to the CHP 11-99 foundation at chp11-99.org.