Two separate traffic collisions on Highway 17 resulted in fatalities over the weekend — the deaths of a passenger riding in a vehicle driving the wrong way, and the driver of a motorcycle that left the roadway, according to press releases from the California Highway Patrol.
Shortly after 12:30 a.m. Saturday, CHP officers responded to reports of the first incident — a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction on Highway 17 south of Santa Cruz Avenue in Los Gatos, authorities said. The vehicle, a Toyota Camry, was driving northbound in the southbound lanes and caused another vehicle to leave the highway. Authorities do not know where the Toyota entered the freeway.
Around 12:40 a.m., officers received reports that the Toyota Camry was in a collision, authorities said. The Toyota had crashed first into a Honda Del Sol, then a Honda Civic.
The passenger of the Toyota was pronounced deceased at the scene due to fatal injuries, authorities said. The Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office identified her as Stephanie Ann Hughes, a 43-year-old woman from San Jose.
The Toyota’s driver, a 44-year-old man from San Jose, suffered major injuries. Authorities said they believe that the driver of the Toyota was driving under the influence.
The Honda Del Sol driver suffered major injuries and the Honda Civic driver suffered moderate injuries, authorities said. Both were taken to the hospital.
Southbound Highway 17 was closed for three hours while officers investigated, authorities added. The incident remains under investigation.
The second incident occurred just before 2 a.m. Saturday, authorities said. A BMW F900 motorcycle was driving from the northbound Highway 17 to southbound Highway 280 in San Jose when the driver turned into the left shoulder and hit the railing of the concrete bridge at the undercrossing of Moorpark Avenue. The driver was thrown from the motorcycle and landed on a concrete embankment, authorities added.
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It is not known what speed the motorcycle was traveling at or why the driver veered into the shoulder, authorities added.
The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash at 2:10 a.m., authorities said. The Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office identified him as Sahil Bhuptani, a 34-year-old man from Morgan Hill.
The interchange from northbound Highway 17 to southbound Highway 280 was closed for one hour while officers investigated, authorities added. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with further information on either incident is asked to contact CHP San Jose at 408-961-0900.
