A 72-year-old San Jose resident was killed by an alleged drunk driver in Morgan Hill Sunday. The accident was not the usual kind of pedestrian accident. The victim of the crash was riding a Segway motorized scooter when he was struck by a car.
The accident victim was crossing Butterfield Boulevard in Morgan Hill at roughly 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Police believe an 83-year-old Los Gatos man ran a red-light and slammed into the Segway and its rider in the crosswalk. Several witnesses apparently saw the accident and dialed 911. The driver of the automobile reportedly stopped down the road from the fatal accident. The victim reportedly died at the hospital.
The man who was killed in the accident was inspecting business properties, as was his routine. He and his family ran a business together. The victim, an aficionado of technology, loved to ride his Segway, something he did nearly every day.
The driver of the car involved in the accident was reportedly taken into custody after the crash. Police booked the man into the Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and felony driving under the influence.
Morgan Hill police Sgt. Troy Hoefling says the tragic accident was not only avoidable, but devastating for the victim’s family. He says drunk driving accidents affect “so many people, so many families.”
Source: San Jose Mercury News, “San Jose business owner killed on Segway, struck by elderly drunken driver, police say,” Mike Rosenberg, Oct. 25, 2011
