Andy Ornelas
Agency patch
Officer

Andy Ornelas

California Highway Patrol — Sacramento, CA
Accident
End of Watch December 2, 2020
Age 27
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
The Vigil Panel 173 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Andy Ornelas succumbed to injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash near the intersection of West Avenue N-3 and North 32nd Street, in Palmdale, nine days earlier.

He was en route to a vehicle crash at about 7:05 pm when another vehicle attempted a U-turn after missing its turn into a driveway. The vehicle turned directly into Officer Ornelas' path, causing a collision. Officer Ornelas was transported to Antelope Valley Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on December 2nd, 2020.

Officer Ornelas had served with the California Highway Patrol for four years and was assigned to the Antelope Valley Area Office. He is survived by his wife, parents, brother, and sister. His parents, brother, and an uncle all serve in law enforcement.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, parents, brother, and sister.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Ornelas gave the California Highway Patrol 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Ornelas.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Highway Patrol
Location Sacramento, CA
Platform Identity chp.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 2, 2020
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 27
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Cause Detail Motorcycle crash

The Sacrifice · Accident

Andy is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 2020, 45 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 103rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Andy was 27. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Andy had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

December holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

California Highway Patrol has at least 120 officers remembered here, Andy among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Andy Ornelas

California Highway Patrol · End of Watch December 2, 2020

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 34-E

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