Officer John Pedro

John Pedro

Officer John Pedro was killed in an automobile accident in Santa Cruz County while attempting to stop a vehicle at 6:59 am.

Officer Pedro, who had only been on duty for 14 minutes, turned on his emergency lights and accelerated onto an exit ramp from Highway 1 near Watsonville. As he did so, his patrol car went out of control and overturned several times before striking a tree.

Officer Pedro was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the California Highway Patrol for 13 years. He is survived by his wife, also a California Highway Patrol officer, and 2-year-old daughter.

In June 2005, a stretch of Highway 1 between Harkins Slough Road and the Pajaro River Bridge was renamed the John Pedro Memorial Freeway.