Wedding rehearsal dampened by accident on Watsonville Road A
Morgan Hill man was flown to the hospital after crashing his
motorcycle on Watsonville Road at Hummingbird Lane Thursday
afternoon.
A Morgan Hill man was flown to the hospital after crashing his motorcycle on Watsonville Road at Hummingbird Lane Thursday afternoon.
Mike Thompson, of Morgan Hill, was riding his Harley Davidson custom cruiser when he attempted to pass four cars carrying members of a wedding party traveling to a rehearsal at a local winery as he headed south on Watsonville Road at approximately 3:20pm Thursday. San Jose resident Sara Silva was at the front of the southbound line of cars Thompson intended to pass.
As Thompson began to pass the cars, Silva made a left turn onto Hummingbird Lane and Thompson struck the rear driver’s side of Silva’s 1993 Isuzu Rodeo. Witnesses said Silva had her turn signal lights on. The impact threw Thompson off his motorcycle about 10 to 15 feet onto Watsonville Road, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Matt Ramirez.
Thompson was conscious and talking when emergency workers responded to the accident. Ramirez said it did not appear Thompson suffered injuries to his head. He was wearing a helmet. An initial assessment indicated he may have broken several bones including his collar bone.
“It appears the motorcyclist got impatient and while he was legally passing on the broken line, he didn’t see the vehicle turning left until it was too late. It looks like a case of poor judgment,” said Ramirez.
Thompson, who is in his 30s, was flown by CALSTAR to either Valley Medical, Regional Hospital or Stanford, Ramirez said.
Friends and family of Joy Lynam of San Jose and Mike Manuppelli of Queens, N.Y., were on their way to the winery for the couple’s wedding rehearsal. Silva, who happens to be the maid of honor, was shaken, Ramirez said, but did not appear to be suffering from any injuries.
Rose Meily is the city editor for the Morgan Hill Times. Reach her at 779-4106 or by e-mail at rm****@mo*************.com
