Lake Elsinore, California – After one of its deputies was murdered in a collision on his way home from work in Lake Elsinore on Thursday morning, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department is in sorrow.
SkyFOX flew over the Riverside County scene as the deputy’s body was being transported in a hearse while being saluted by other emergency personnel.
Officials from Orange County have named the deputy as San Juan Capistrano-based deputy Brian Haney, who was traveling home from work at the time of the collision. He was married with a month-old child, according to officials. It was not immediately known how old Haney was.
Lake Elsinore fatal crash involving an off duty OC Deputy. The crash happened on Railroad Canyon near the intersection of Canyon Hills more information on @FOXLA #SkyFox pic.twitter.com/EkhzArmAKy
— stu mundel (@Stu_Mundel) February 9, 2023
Six years had passed since Deputy Haney joined the force.
“Today, Orange County Deputy Brian Haney tragically lost his life on his way home from a shift of keeping San Juan Capistrano families safe. I’m grateful for his service, and my heart goes to Deputy Haney’s loved ones. His young family will need our strong community support through the grief,” Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley said in a statement.
We are mourning the loss of one of our own. Earlier this morning, the Riverside Sheriff’s Department informed us that a member of our Department was pronounced deceased at the scene of a traffic collision.
— OC Sheriff, CA (@OCSheriff) February 9, 2023
San Juan Capistrano Mayor Howard Hart wrote online that he was “shocked and deeply saddened” at Haney’s death.
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“I am especially devastated to learn that he leaves behind a loving wife and a newborn baby to whom he was returning home after protecting and serving our community when this terrible accident occurred,” Hart wrote. “I know my San Juan Capistrano neighbors will join me in prayers of comfort and support for Deputy Haney’s family and loved ones.”
Investigations are being done to determine what happened before the collision.