Culver City Observer -

Ralph Edward Watson, 55, of Culver City, Calif., was pronounced dead at the scene last week in Wheatland, California after his motorcycle was hit head on.

Durham, South Carolina Police Officer Joshua Paul Christensen, 26, police officer was charged with vehicular manslaughter in connection with a fatal accident.

Christensen was driving a 2003 Dodge Ram pickup Thursday morning on State Highway 65 south of Wheatland when his vehicle collided with Watson’s Suzuki motorcycle, according to reports by the California Highway Patrol.

According to the Durham Police Department Christensen was hired about a year ago. A reservist with the U.S. Air Force he was on military leave at the time of the accident.

He was released Sept. 6 after posting bail from the Yuba County Jail.

The Highway Patrol report of the accident said Christensen’s truck was traveling north on State Road 65 south of the city of Wheatland at about 55 miles per hour. Watson was traveling south at about 55 miles per hour, and Christensen’s vehicle crossed the double-yellow lines and hit the motorcycle head-on. According to the highway patrol neither drugs nor alcohol was a factor in the crash

Durham police spokeswoman Kammie Michael said, “The Durham Police Department is aware of the accident and arrest. It is being looked into by our Professional Standards Division, which is standard procedure.”

Matson lived on Canterbury Drive in Culver City.

Wheatland is about 50 miles north of Sacramento, Calif.