Motor officer killed

[acook]

Deputy killed in collision

43-year-old Ronald Ives remembered for coordinating charity and safety events

Wednesday, September 01, 2004 - RANCHO CUCAMONGA - A motorcycle officer was killed Wednesday after he was struck by a motorist in a blue sport-utility vehicle who witnesses said ran a red light.

Ronald Ives, 43, of Upland was traveling east on Baseline Road at Archibald Avenue at the time of the collision, said Robin Haynal, San Bernardino County Sheriff's spokeswoman.

The name of the motorist who struck Ives was not available by Wednesday evening.

Ed Moreno, a witness who gave statements to police after the accident, said he was traveling alone behind the SUV at the time of the collision.

"I was southbound on Archibald, and I said, "Oh no, he's going to run the red light,"' Moreno said. "He was probably on the phone or something."

Sheriff's Deputy Chief Ron Perret called it a "sad day for the department and for law enforcement. Our hearts go out to his family and to everyone who knew him."

Ives was with the sheriff's Rancho Cucamonga station for eight years, four of which were spent as a motorcycle officer, sheriff's Lt. Scott Mesa said.

He leaves behind a wife and a 20-year-old son.

Ives helped organize the Patriot Day Bike Tour in 2002, and on July 31 of that year, officers pedaled 4,000 miles cross-country to raise awareness and funds for the families of firefighters and law enforcement officers killed during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He also coordinated the annual Bike Rodeo for the station, a bicycle safety event for the community.

The sheriff's department's Major Accident Investigation Team is examining the collision.

Moreno said the blue SUV hit Ives, throwing him from his motorcycle. Both the SUV and the motorcycle struck other vehicles after the collision.

Two others were injured in the collision, though no further details were available.

"The cop flew from the middle of the street. He did a somersault then landed on the curb," Moreno said, pointing to an area on the east side of Archibald stained with blood, the officer's helmet and bits of discarded plastic medical debris.

Moreno complimented the quick response of the California Highway Patrol and sheriff's department.

"These guys got here quick; I was happy."

However, the trauma to the deputy's body proved too much.

Ives was airlifted to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton where he was pronounced dead at 3:40 p.m. Hospital officials said Ives was in full cardiac arrest when he arrived. Doctors spent another 20 minutes in an unsuccessful attempt to resuscitate him, said Dr. Dev GnanaDev, medical director for Arrowhead Regional.

Deputies and others who knew Ives congregated in the parking lot outside the emergency room Wednesday afternoon, embracing and wiping away tears as they received the news.

[Flatbutt1]

a bummer as always when a kindred spirit is taken from us. It will be interesting though to see what kind of justice is handed down to the SUV driver now that a police officer is the victim and not just some "damn biker"

[Moybin]

I'm with you, flatbutt. Now that John Law has lost one of their own to a cell phone/SUV combo I wonder how long before the men in blue get up in arms with the Legislators in Sacto. If any State in the Union can start a movement to abolish cell phones in cages it will be California. If it can't fly there, it won't fly anywhere else.

[Rapid Dog]

...and believe-you-me, it needs to be done here.

[JonyRR]

and here!!!
there was a case in alaska that just got tried with an (unfortunate, as the bastid needed to go to the slammer for life) aquittal; the defendant was watching a dash-mounted dvd player, went in the oncoming lane, hit a car of course and killed both occupants. how stupid are we as a society to allow that kind of idiotic stuff (dash-mounted dvd players???? c'mon...wtfo?). and of course, the dearth of personal responsibility anymore...it wasn't his fault, he was distracted by the dvd player (his defense) and the jury AQUITTED him!!! geezzz-aus. we're doomed.

[Moybin]

I've told both my son's that the watchword of their generation is "Keep your powder dry"! As they have left college and ventured out into the "real" world they are starting to understand my curmudgeon attitude about the rest of American humanity.

I think the scariest thing right now is the complete lack of concern everyone has for the future. Business managers and politicians alike seem to be living for today, maybe out to 6 months on the spreadsheet, but no further. And the concept that countries with long term planning being better is bunk; Japan has some of the best long-term planning around and look at them, they are falling apart as fast as us.

I hate to think about the world my grand kids will grow up to confront. Technologically a paradise on Earth filled with lecherous perverts and amoral maniacs. Just plain scary.

[roger albert]

Man, that is a bummer.

At the end of July, I just finished a 1 year restoration for a guy and sent him his final bill. I didn't get the normal prompt payment. Got a letter from his brother a week ago. He was hit by a truck and killed the first week of August, about 2 days after he received his "It's finally ready" letter. A real nice guy and old vehicle buff. Now I'm just going to sell it for the family/estate. A real bummer across the board. Always a bummer to hear of a stricken rider.

[pdonnell]

Goddamnit, WTF does running a red light do for you time wise. What a waste.

[Moybin]

One thing that the police can do is to start harrassing cell phone user/drivers. Every time they see an individual driving and talking, even if it's totally legal (meaning there are no laws against it) they nitpick them for any little issue they can. Something to break up the phone call. Tail light burned out, daylight driving bulb out, routine check of license, registration and insurance, suspicion of DWI due to erratic driving (caused by cell phone use).

John Law can make a difference, if they decide it's worth the effort. So what if it p!sses off the "I'm totally within my rights" types. It's a type of profiling that would actually have an impact.

[wolff]

I wonder if it had been a German Police officer would real safety gear have made a difference?

[Moybin]

I doubt any amount of safety gear will compensate for a full-frame SUV broadside hit. On that thought line I've wondered if chain mail over leather or some other padded material would protect any better. It would certainly be heavier.