Accident kills Saratoga man; police close Highway 9
Police suspect speeding as cause of the accident
Three cars are involved
By Gloria I. Wang
A fatal accident on Los Gatos-Saratoga Road caused the road's closure for more than eight hours on April 30.
Saratoga's Erwin Solís Silva, 24, was killed last Tuesday when the car he was driving toward Los Gatos veered into oncoming traffic. Silva collided with two other vehicles westbound on Los Gatos-Saratoga Road; both drivers suffered minor injuries and were released from the hospital that evening.
According to Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Captain Alana Forrest, witnesses say that Silva was driving his 1990 Toyota between 60 and 70 mph on the section of Los Gatos-Saratoga Road, near Rose Avenue, where the speed limit is 35 mph.
Not only was Silva said to be speeding, but "there were some statements of erratic driving" by those driving behind him, Forrest said.
Witnesses told police that, shortly after 4 p.m., Silva made an abrupt turning movement, traveling across the middle turn lane and into westbound traffic.
Silva ran into an Acura driven by a 24-year-old Scotts Valley resident and a Chevy Tahoe driven by a 17-year-old Saratoga boy. Police were called to the scene at 4:22 p.m., where Silva had already died from massive head injuries, Forrest said.
The other drivers were taken to Valley Medical Center. The Tahoe sustained front-end damage and the Acura "major damage," but Forrest said she did not know if either vehicle would be totaled.
Police closed Los Gatos-Saratoga Road, between Rose and Tait avenues, until 1 a.m. "There was a lot of damage, a lot of debris, a lot of evidence," Forrest said.
The exact speed of Silva's car won't be determined until the police department receives its preliminary skid mark analysis. An accident team was scheduled to thoroughly examine Silva's Toyota and determine whether Silva had been wearing a seat belt, though there has been "pure speculation" that he was, Forrest said.
According to police reports, Silva was living with his uncle in Saratoga to take care of relatives. A native of the Philippines, Silva had been in the country for a short time. He leaves behind a wife and child in the Philippines.
Anyone with information regarding this accident should contact Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Officer Kevin Elliot at 408.354.8600.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
