Eighty-one years ago, an Orange County Sheriff’s patrol car on routine patrol on Pacific Coast Highway south of Seal Beach was struck from behind.
One deputy, Ezra Stanley, was rendered unconscious and wedged inside the car.
The other deputy, Carl Pryor, was knocked free and attempted in vain to pull his partner from the car.
The car caught fire and burned from bumper to bumper. Deputy Stanley was burned beyond recognition.
Deputy Pryor was hospitalized with burns and other injuries.
The driver of the car that collided with their patrol vehicle was charged with negligent homicide and drunk driving.
Today we remember one of our own, Deputy Sheriff Ezra Stanley 💚.
On the night of November 19, 1940, Deputies Ezra Stanley and Carl Pryor were patrolling along Pacific Coast Highway between Sunset Beach and Huntington Beach when their car was struck from behind. pic.twitter.com/ol74o2g54P
— OC Sheriff, CA (@OCSheriff) November 19, 2021
This is so sad.