Fellow officers raising money for family of Monterey County Probation officer killed in crash
HOLLISTER, Calif. (KION)
UPDATE 3/4/2020 5:20 p.m. Fellow probation officers have set up a GoFundMe to help the family of Monterey County Probation Officer Florencio Lopez, who was killed in a head-on crash earlier this week.
According to the GoFundMe, Lopez left behind three children, and the money will go towards any costs his family will face.
The crash happened north of Hollister. The CHP said the other driver involved in the crash, Russell Longworth, is suspected of driving drunk.
You can find a link to the GoFundMe campaign here.
UPDATE 3/3/2020 5:00 p.m. Monterey County Probation is mourning the death of one of its officers today.
Officer Florencio Lopez was killed in a head-on crash north of Hollister. The other driver involved, Russell Longworth, is suspected of driving under the influence and is being treated at Natividad.
"It's been a lot to absorb. Our hearts go out to Officer Lopez's family. He was well respected and well liked by his peers and the youth at Juvenile Hall. He was a good one," said Todd Keating, the Interim Chief at Monterey County Probation.
Lopez worked at probation for 19 years.
UPDATE 3/3/2020 The California Highway Patrol has identified the Monterey County Probation officer killed in a possible DUI crash near Hollister.
41-year-old Florencio Lopez was identified as the man killed in a head-on collision Monday afternoon.
The CHP identified Lopez after notifying next of kin and the Monterey County Probation office of the incident.
The person suspected of drunk driving is Russell D. Longworth. He's being treated at Natividad Hospital but is expected to be booked into the San Benito County Jail once he recovers.
ORIGINAL STORY: The California Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly head-on collision on Highway 156 west of Fairview and east of San Felipe, near Hollister.
The driver suspected of drunk driving has been identified. The CHP says Russell D. Longworth from Modesto is being treated at Natividad Hospital in Salinas. Longworth has serious injuries yet was arrested.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly head-on collision on Highway 156 west of Fairview and east of San Felipe, near Hollister.
According to CHP, a 911 caller reported a suspected drunk driver at about 3:00 p.m. Twenty minutes later the silver pickup that matched the caller's description was involved in an accident.
The pickup crashed head-on with a Black Volkswagon.
The driver of the Volkswagon died on impact, according to the CHP.
The driver of the pickup is being treated at Natividad in Salinas. They are suspected of driving while intoxicated and/or on drugs. They were taken by air to the hospital with significant injuries. CHP says they will be facing charges.
The victim has not been identified but worked in Monterey County. They are from Los Banos.
