Services for Officer Linen were held on Thursday, August 16th in Oceanside, California.

I was there for a short period of time before the services, and it all looked very nice. I talked with some people who stayed for the services and they said it was very well done. The people who organized it did a very professional and respectful job. CHP Commissioner Helmick, Lt. Governor Bustamante, Oceanside Captain Webb, Stephen's girlfriend, and others spoke. Several pieces of music were performed, including Cliff Bemis who performed "The Badge of the CHP." In my opinion, the local media did a nice job of covering the funeral.

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Pictures from the crash are below.

Information on the crash from the CHP Press release

On August 12, 2001, at approximately 6:02 AM, CHP Officer Stephen Michael Linen, age 31, was tragically struck and killed by a suspected DUI driver on northbound (NB) Interstate 5, north of Leucadia Bl, in the city of Encinitas.

Officer Linen, a seven year veteran, was conducting an enforcement stop on NB I-5, north of Leucadia Bl, on the right shoulder. During the process if issuing the citation, while standing on the right side of the patrol car, a Dodge Intrepid, driven by Jerome Anthoney Bates, Jr., age 20 of Camp Pendleton Marine Base, drove onto the right shoulder, striking Officer Linen's CHP patrol car, and subsequently striking Officer Linen.

The impact caused the CHP patrol car to explode and burn, travel forward, and strike a Ford F-150. Several witnesses arrived and began CPR efforts on Officer Linen at the collision scene. Officer Linen was airlifted by Mercy Air to Scripps La Jolla Hospital and was subsequently pronounced deceased at 7:01 AM.

The occupants of both the Dodge and the Ford sustained minor to moderate injuries. The right front passenger in the Dodge, identified as Christopher J. Sterling, age 20 of Camp Pendleton, sustained moderate injuries and was transported to Scripps La Jolla Hospital by ambulance. The Ford's right front passenger, James Vath, 26 years old of San Diego, CA, and driver Kevin Borth, age 19, sustained minor injuries and were transported by ambulance to Scripps Encinitas Hospital.

Driver, Jerome A. Bates, was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and transported to Tri-City Hospital for medical treatment. Bates was booked into Vista Detention Facility for Felony DUI and Gross Vehicular Manslaughter. In December, Bates pleaded guilty. He faces up to 10 years in jail.

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