The Willow Glen Resident

Churchgoers saddened by a fatal Glen auto accident

By Rebecca Wallace

Churchgoers arriving at St. Christopher Church on March 1 were greeted by leftover police flares and destroyed trees--the aftermath of a fatal car accident that happened earlier that morning in the driveway of the church.

"It was devastating. The car was just flipped over," said Father Christopher Bennett, who returned to the church from making a hospital call a few hours after the midnight accident. "It's so sad when somebody dies like that."

Marco Antonio Martinez Gonzalez, 21, of San Jose, was killed after he lost control of the 1984 Audi he was driving eastbound on Curtner Avenue, said San Jose police officer John Carrillo. While driving rapidly, Gonzalez lost control of the car near Bello Avenue and drove into the church driveway at 1576 Curtner Ave., where the car hit a hedge and rolled over sideways into a brick wall.

Gonzalez suffered severe injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, Carrillo said. A male passenger, whom police did not name, was seriously injured and taken to Valley Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition.

Police still do not know why Gonzalez lost control of the car, Carrillo said.

Bennett said about half of a line of small trees near the brick wall the Audi hit was destroyed, and the wall was pushed over. "[The car] just shot straight across the lawn, hit the trees and then hit straight into the wall," he said.

The accident is still under investigation. Anyone who may have witnessed it is asked to call officer Kevin Cassidy at the Traffic Investigations Unit at 277-4654. People who wish to remain anonymous may call the San Jose Police Crime Stoppers Program at 947-STOP.

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