In loving memory of Sherrif’s Deputy Eugene Kostiuchenko

Ventura County

End of Watch: 10/28/2014

Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputy Eugene Kostiuchenko, 41, was killed October 28th, by a suspected DUI driver on the 101 Freeway while conducting a traffic stop in Camarillo.

The deputy was struck around 1:15 a.m. by a motorist who fled the scene. He had just released the traffic violator who had been stopped and was walking back to his vehicle when he was struck by a vehicle that sideswiped his car. He died instantly.

The male driver, 25, continued driving on the freeway and crashed his vehicle a short distance away in the area of the 101 and Las Posas Road. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI.

Kostiuchenko was originally from Ukraine, and worked for Ventura County’s Emergency Preparedness Office. Colleagues said he wanted to become a deputy and became a U.S. citizen to be able to do so.

Kostiuchenko had served with the department for 11 years. He is survived by his wife and 2 stepchildren.