Three people were killed in three separate crashes across southern Santa Clara County over the weekend, according to the California Highway Patrol. The collisions, two involving motorcycles and one a head-on crash between pickup trucks, unfolded in unincorporated stretches of the South Bay and left residents and first responders shaken. CHP investigators say the wrecks are still under review as they work to piece together what happened.
Crash timeline and victims
The first fatal crash was reported Saturday evening, when officers responded to a motorcycle collision on Highway 101 near the Sargent overcrossing and found a damaged Honda and its rider, a 45-year-old Watsonville woman, dead at the scene, according to The Mercury News. The outlet reported that first responders tried life-saving measures on the rider, but she did not survive.
Sunday collisions and arrest
On Sunday afternoon, a 34-year-old San Jose man riding a Harley-Davidson collided with a Chevrolet Silverado that was towing a trailer on State Route 152 at Ferguson Road and was pronounced dead at the scene, as reported by San Jose Inside. Roughly two hours later, a Ford F-150 and a Toyota pickup crashed head-on on Bolsa Road north of Bloomfield Road. Officers found the Toyota driver, identified as a 56-year-old Aptos man, unresponsive, and the Ford driver was arrested after reportedly trying to flee on foot.
CHP urges caution
CHP Hollister-Gilroy Area Commander Capt. Noel Coady described the weekend string of crashes as avoidable and urged motorists to slow down and drive defensively. “This incident was preventable,” Coady said in a statement, according to San Jose Inside. Investigators have not ruled out any potential causes and are asking anyone who witnessed any of the collisions to contact the agency.
Legal note
A driver who leaves the scene of a crash that causes injury or death can face criminal charges under California law. California Vehicle Code Section 20001 covers hit-and-run collisions that result in injury or death and allows prosecutors to pursue felony charges. Any charging decisions will be made by prosecutors after law enforcement finishes its investigation.
Anyone with information about any of the crashes is asked to call the CHP Hollister-Gilroy Area office at 408-427-0700. The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner will release the victims’ identities once next of kin have been notified, according to The Mercury News. Authorities say the investigations are ongoing and that no possible causes have been ruled out.
