Cable Car Operator, Struck By Motorcyclist, Dies After 7-Month Coma

Cable Car Operator, Struck By Motorcyclist, Dies After 7-Month ComaPhoto: Google Streetview
Rose Garrett
Published on January 13, 2016

Reynaldo Abraham “Avy” Morante, the cable car operator left in critical condition after a June 2015 crash, has died, according to the Examiner.

Morante was badly injured when he was hit from behind by a motorcycle as he was stepping off the Powell & Mason line at 10:27pm Thursday, June 11th.

The motorcyclist, 22-year-old William Kanta Makepeace, was arrested on the scene for felony drunk driving, and was charged with two felony counts of driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury. He's now out on bail, and the DA's office is "evaluating what additional charges may be appropriate" in light of Morante's death.

The Examiner reports that Morante had been in a coma since the accident, and was on life support at Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center before passing away yesterday.

Morante, described as a "humble," "happy-go-lucky" man who loved his job, had been a Muni operator for more than 20 years, and moved over to the cable car division in 2014.