Morgan Hill – A 53-year-old woman was killed Monday morning on Watsonville Road in a one-car accident where weather factors could have played a role, according to authorities.
The Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office was not ready to release her identity by presstime Monday afternoon.
According to California Highway Patrol Officer Chris Armstrong, the woman was driving eastbound on Watsonville Road west of Pharmer Road at approximately 5:20am. Armstrong said Monday it is not yet known if she was speeding, but the road was wet from recent rain, and even if she was not driving over the speed limit, the speed may have been unsafe for conditions.
The Nissan Pathfinder the woman was driving spun out of control as she made a right turn east of Pharmer Road, Armstrong said, and smashed into a wooden support pole.
“Though the vehicle subsequently flipped onto its roof, it appears that the original impact with the pole, on the driver’s side of the vehicle, caused major trauma to her head,” he said.
The woman was wearing a seatbelt, he added, and alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the accident.
She died at the scene after emergency crews had extricated her from the Pathfinder and attempted to provide medical aid, Armstrong said.
The accident is still under investigation; the CHP will know more about the incident today, and Coroner’s Office officials said they expect to confirm the woman’s identity today.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@*************es.com.
