Francisco Mateo, 44, of Morgan Hill, died late Monday morning
when a dozing driver slammed full-speed into his stopped car on
Monterey Road at the intersection of Masten Avenue just north of
Gilroy. Five cars were involved in the 11:20 a.m. wreck that
injured three drivers.
Francisco Mateo, 44, of Morgan Hill, died late Monday morning when a dozing driver slammed full-speed into his stopped car on Monterey Road at the intersection of Masten Avenue just north of Gilroy. Five cars were involved in the 11:20 a.m. wreck that injured three drivers.
While the accident is still under investigation, the CHP expects charges will be filed against Galvan.
“We are looking at all possible charges relative to this investigation,” CHP officer Brad Voyles said Thursday.
Vehicular manslaughter is among charges that will be considered once the report is complete. Voyles said the final decision on charges will be made by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office.
Once the CHP’s investigation is complete, Voyles said the case will be referred to the district attorney who will ultimately decide what charges will be filed.
Mateo was waiting for a red light on southbound Monterey when Ruben Galvan’s blue Ford Escort plowed into the back of his Geo Metro compact car, according to CHP.
Galvan, 42, of Morgan Hill, told CHP he fell asleep at the wheel. He was taken before a formal interview could occur to nearby Saint Louise Regional Hospital and later transferred by medical helicoper to San Jose Medical Center for treatment of a broken sternum and lacerated liver. He was listed in serious condition Thursday.
Mateo died quickly, if not instantly, despite wearing a seat belt and the deployment of two front-seat air bags. American Medical Response paramedics arrived at the scene quickly, since their base is a few blocks away at Masten and U.S. Highway 101, but he was already dead.
Mateo’ Metro was last in a line of four cars at the light, which turned green an instant before Galvan’s Escort hit, according to CHP officers. The Metro absorbed most of the Escort’s velocity and was pushed into a Hyundai Elantra, which hit a Nissan Sentra, which in turn bumped a Honda Accord.
Accord driver Terry Province, 50, of Morgan Hill, complained of neck and back pain and was taken by ambulance to Saint Louise, where she was treated and released.
Sentra driver Vanessa Yanez, 20, of Fremont, is three months pregnant, according to her boyfriend, who was at the scene but did not give his name. She complained of neck and back pain, and her aunt in Gilroy, whom she was driving to visit, drove her to Saint Louise, where she was treated and released.
“She was shaken up,” the boyfriend said.
The Elantra’s driver, David Doshack, 39, of Morgan Hill, decided to seek his own aid at a later time. He said he had aches and pains and a small cut on the back of his head, but nothing serious.
CHP officers reported that Galvan was traveling about 50 to 55 mph at the time of impact. The speed limit there is 50 mph.
Peter Crowley covers public safety for The Dispatch. You can reach him at pc******@************ch.com or 847-7109.
