Fatal accident sounded like 'explosion' to area resident
By Gloria I. Wang
In the investigation of a recent fatal car accident, police have determined that Erwin Solís Silva was driving 50 to 55 mph on southbound Los Gatos-Saratoga Road at the moment he crashed into two other vehicles in the opposing lane.
Silva, 24, died instantly of massive head injuries, despite wearing a seatbelt.
According to Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Captain Alana Forrest, Silva was likely driving even faster on the 35 mph section of the street prior to the point of impact.
Forrest said it will take several weeks to receive the toxicology results from the April 30 crash that left two other drivers with minor injuries. Witness statements indicated Silva was driving erratically even before he turned into oncoming traffic, Forrest said.
Silva was a recent immigrant from the Philippines. He lived with his uncle in Florida, who notified Silva's wife and child in the Philippines of his death.
Lana Malloy lives on Los Gatos--Saratoga Road, a few doors east of the Monte Sereno City Hall. Police closed down a section of the street for eight hours after the accident, including the portion in front of Malloy's house.
Malloy was at home when she heard the noise caused by the crash. "There was a huge explosion," Malloy said. "I thought my son had fallen down the staircase. The whole house shook."
Malloy looked out the window, where she saw Silva's white 1990 Toyota completely totaled. She then called 911, and the dispatcher told her that someone had already reported a three-car collision in that area.
Grabbing a blanket, Malloy ran outside to assist the drivers who appeared to be injured. The woman driving the Acura that Silva had hit was holding a dirty sweatshirt up to her bleeding forehead, Malloy said. Malloy took some clean towels for the victim and, together with others at the scene, had her sit down.
As soon as firetrucks arrived, Malloy said, she went inside because she did not want to interfere with the emergency work and the investigation.
"Nobody went near [Silva's] white car," Malloy said. "It was as if everyone knew that we couldn't do anything."
According to Malloy, speeding vehicles and lane-cutters frequent the road, and increased enforcement is the solution. "I sit out front all the time and I see crazy stuff. And I never see the police," Malloy said.
Malloy said that while police do a good job of patrolling downtown, they fail to catch violators in certain parts of town. "We need more police patrol coming to Los Gatos," Malloy said. "Highway 9 is a residential street in Monte Sereno, and people need to treat it like that."
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
