Police Officer Dies In San Jose Motorcycle Crash

SAN JOSE, CA — A Soledad police officer died in a crash on a San Jose highway early Sunday morning and has been identified by the Santa Clara County medical examiner's office as 33-year-old Kevin McArthur.

McArthur, a Salinas resident, was pronounced dead at the scene just after 3 a.m. Sunday. According to the California Highway Patrol, McArthur was riding his Yamaha motorcycle on the connecting ramp from southbound state Highway 87 to southbound state Highway 85 when the vehicle veered to the right and he struck a concrete wall.

The collision caused McArthur to be flung over the wall and fall about 100 feet onto a field next to Santa Teresa Boulevard, CHP officials said.

McArthur had been an officer with the Soledad Police Department since 2014 and a member of the California Army National Guard Reserve, according to interim Soledad police Chief Damon Wasson. He was also named the department's Officer of the Year for two consecutive years.

Wasson said the department will fly its flags at half-staff for the rest of the week in McArthur's honor. McArthur's family plans to hold a private family memorial event next month, Wasson said, but is otherwise hoping to avoid public memorials.

The CHP is still seeking information about the crash. People with information can contact the CHP's San Jose office at (408) 467-5400.

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