TIPTON, CALIFORNIA — California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Liles, 44, was killed in the line of duty on September 28 after his motorcycle collided with a tractor-trailer on State Route 99 near Tipton in Tulare County and he was then struck by a passing vehicle. He was the 233rd officer to die in the line of duty in CHP history and the department’s first line-of-duty death since 2020.
How the Crash Unfolded
Liles was riding a department-issued motorcycle northbound on SR-99 south of Avenue 152 around 5:11 p.m. when his motorcycle collided directly with a northbound tractor-trailer. The force of the impact ejected him from the motorcycle into the roadway. A passing passenger car also traveling northbound then struck him. Nearby CHP officers arrived first and performed CPR alongside EMS crews. Despite life-saving efforts, Liles was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:32 p.m.
The identity of the tractor-trailer driver and the name of the commercial carrier have not been publicly released. No other parties sustained injuries. Both the truck driver and the driver of the passing car remained at the scene and are fully cooperating with investigators. The circumstances leading to the initial collision remain under investigation.
A 16-Year Career
Liles served with CHP for more than 16 years after graduating from the CHP Academy in 2010. He served in San Jose, Hayward, and Fresno before transferring to the Visalia Area office in 2019. In December 2025 he became one of the first motorcycle officers assigned to the Visalia Area after completing the CHP’s rigorous motorcycle training program — a role he had held for less than a year when he was killed.
CHP Chief Damon Gilmore called the loss devastating for the department and community. “Brian was a true public servant, just an amazing officer, and he’s going to be greatly missed. He is the 36th officer that has laid down his life here in Central Division, and the 233rd officer for the California Highway Patrol since our inception in 1929.”
Bell Toll Tribute
On September 30, CHP held a Bell Toll Tribute ceremony at the CHP Academy in West Sacramento. Commissioner Sean Duryee and Chief Mike Lehman spoke during the ceremony alongside family, friends, uniformed personnel, and members of the law enforcement community. The ceremonial tolling of the memorial bell is a longstanding CHP tradition honoring officers who die in the line of duty.
Community and State Response
Governor Gavin Newsom honored Liles following the crash, calling his death a heartbreaking loss for CHP and California. Flags at the Capitol and Capitol Annex Swing Space were lowered to half-staff. CHP Chief Gilmore noted the close-knit nature of the Visalia office. “We’re probably uniquely close in Visalia, and the level of support from each officer — I think that’s what creates the bond and will get us through this.”
The CHP 11-99 Foundation announced $50,000 in emergency and death benefits for Liles’ wife.
Liles is survived by his wife, two children, parents, and two sisters.
Interviews courtesy of local media and CHP.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
