A bicyclist died at the scene Thursday morning after colliding with a vehicle on Tully Road near the Highway 101 on-ramp in San Jose, according to police. The crash happened around 7:45 a.m., prompting investigators to shut down westbound Tully Road from South King Road to the freeway on-ramp for an extended period while they worked the scene.
KRON4 said the bicyclist was not immediately identified, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation, as reported by KRON4. The driver involved is cooperating with investigators, and police advised motorists to seek alternate routes while the road closure remained in effect.
A Corridor Already Flagged as Dangerous
Thursday's crash followed an August 31 pedestrian death near Vista Park Drive and Branham Lane that became the city's 31st traffic fatality of 2026, according to Hoodline's earlier reporting on that Branham Lane collision. The city has a Tully Road Priority Safety Corridor Project.
Citywide, these designated Priority Safety Corridors account for roughly 46 percent of all traffic fatalities and severe injuries in San Jose, per the same Hoodline analysis.
Recent History of Fatal Crashes on Tully Road
Thursday's death is not the first fatal crash on this stretch this year. On August 4, a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle making a right turn at Tully Road and Lucretia Avenue and later died from his injuries on August 9, according to a report from SFGATE. That driver also remained at the scene and cooperated with police.
In a July 27, 2024 report, Hoodline said a female bicyclist was fatally struck on Tully Road after two bicyclists crossed the roadway outside a marked crosswalk, the San Jose Police Department reported at the time — a crash Hoodline covered as the Tully Road cyclist's death that marked the city's 25th traffic fatality of that year.
State Law and a Statewide Pattern
California Vehicle Code Section 21760, the Three Feet for Safety Act, requires drivers overtaking a bicyclist traveling the same direction to leave at least three feet when passing, according to Justia Law. The statute also sets rules for passing bicyclists.
The Thursday crash also highlights the ongoing risks faced by bicyclists in California. Statewide bicycle safety remains a concern.
Infrastructure Upgrades Amid Ongoing Construction
The city has not been idle on Tully Road. San Jose's Department of Transportation has a Tully Road Priority Safety Corridor Project. Even so, the corridor remains a complex environment for cyclists and pedestrians alike.
Roadway conditions along East San Jose corridors including Tully Road can add complexity for cyclists and pedestrians alike. That combination of high vehicle speeds, complex freeway interchange merges near Highway 101, and active transit construction creates a demanding environment for anyone traveling the corridor outside a car.
For now, key details of Thursday's crash — including vehicle speed, exact lane placement, and signal phase — remain under active investigation by SJPD's Traffic Investigations Unit. The investigation continues.
