By Bee Staff
A cadet at the California Highway Patrol at the agency's academy in West Sacramento died today, the CHP said.
The CHP said Randy Atchison, 24, of Ceres, died at Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento.
Atchison was transported by ambulance to Sutter General Hospital Oct. 29 for an unknown illness after completing a regularly scheduled physical training session, according to a CHP release.
The cadet was transferred on Oct. 31 to Sutter Memorial Hospital, where he died at 1:29 a.m. today, the release states.
"On behalf of the CHP family, I extend my heartfelt sympathy to Cadet Atchison's family, friends and fellow Academy classmates," said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. "Cadet Atchison was just beginning the road to becoming a CHP officer, which was his lifelong dream. He had a life full of promise ahead that was tragically cut short."
Atchison was among a 124-member class that began the 27-week training on Oct. 25.
Atchison is survived by his parents, James and Andrea; brothers, Zachary and Chad; a sister, Alissa; his girlfriend, Kimberlee Andrada; and a 1-month-old daughter, Kaylee Atchison.
The CHP is working with Atchison's family on funeral arrangements.
It is believed Atchison's death is the second cadet death in the CHP's 81-year history, the release states.
It is the first since the academy in West Sacramento opened in 1976 that a member of the cadet class died while enrolled in the program (a cadet died in 1951 during a motorcycle training exercise when the academy was located on Meadowview Road in Sacramento), the release states.
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