On November 23, 2020, at approximately 1905 hours, Antelope Valley Area Officer Ornelas was on patrol, riding his departmental Harley Davidson motorcycle, eastbound on Avenue N, east of 34th Street West in Palmdale, California. A Ford F150 pickup truck towing a small utility trailer was traveling eastbound directly ahead of Officer Ornelas. The driver of the pickup truck missed his turn and pulled onto the south dirt shoulder. The driver of the pickup truck failed to observe Officer Ornelas’s motorcycle and made a U-turn, directly into the path of Officer Ornelas. Due to the close proximity, Officer Ornelas did not have time to take evasive action and collided with the pickup truck. Officer Ornelas was ejected from his motorcycle and suffered life threatening injuries.
Officer Ornelas was transported to Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster. Despite significant life-saving efforts by medical personnel, on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, Officer Ornelas succumbed to his injuries.
Officer Ornelas is survived by his wife Taylor, mother, Retired CHP Officer Kellie Ornelas, ID 13408, father, active Los Angeles Police Department Officer Art Ornelas, brother, CHP Officer Cody Ornelas, ID 22401, and sister, Nikki Ornelas. Officer Ornelas was a member of the Department for three and a half years.
PO Box 276507
Sacramento, CA 95827