He was killed in the line of duty while trying to stop a drunk driver who was going the wrong-way on Highway 52 in Santee last year. Deputy Ken Collier made the ultimate sacrifice to keep other drivers safe.
Today, the drunk and wrong-way driver, Jose Lopez Jasso was sentenced to 7 years and 8 months in prison. This closes a chapter in the quest for justice, but the pain endures for the fiancée, brother and sister of Deputy Collier. Sheriff’s Department employees will never forget his sense of humor and dedication to his job. Sheriff Bill Gore said, "While today's sentencing does bring some measure of solace, it cannot bring back our deputy and friend, Ken Collier."
Deputy Kenneth Collier was born June 4, 1970 in Portsmouth, Virginia. In 1977, he moved with his family to Santee, later graduating from Santa High School and Grossmont College and SDSU.
Ken started his law enforcement career with the Marshal’s Office in 1997. In August of 2001, he became a detentions deputy. In July 2006, he became a patrol deputy and joined the Santee Station.
In the early morning hours of February 28, 2010, he came upon a wrong-way driver on Highway 52 in Santee. Due to his concern for the safety of the driving public, Deputy Collier tried to overtake the wrong-way driver. During the pursuit, his patrol SUV struck a center median, rolled down a hill and caught fire. Deputy Collier died at a hospital from his injuries. In October, Jose Lopez Jasso pleaded guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence causing great bodily injury and driving the wrong way. Today, he was sentenced to 7 years and 8 months in prison.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment