Morgan Hill Police responded to two fatal collisions on Watsonville Road on Nov. 9—one involving a pedestrian and the other a single-vehicle accident, according to police.
The first accident occurred about 3:45pm in the area of Watsonville Road and Venetian Way—a few blocks southeast of Monterey Road. When police arrived on the scene, officers located a vehicle on the north sidewalk of Watsonville Road, according to Morgan Hill Police.
The vehicle exhibited major front-end damage. Two people inside the vehicle appeared to have significant injuries and both were unresponsive, police said. Police and Morgan Hill Fire Department personnel began rescue efforts on the two crash victims.
The driver and passenger—both Gilroy residents—were transported to a local trauma center, according to police. The passenger was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. The driver of the vehicle was listed in critical condition as of Nov. 12.
The passenger who died in the accident was identified as Tiffany Ulanimo, 26, of Gilroy, according to the Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office.
Officers from the MHPD Traffic Unit are investigating the collision. Prior to the collision, the vehicle was seen traveling eastbound on Watsonville Road, then drifted across the westbound lanes of traffic and collided with a tree, according to police.
Evening victim was active community member
As police and paramedics continued to process the scene of the single-vehicle accident, authorities responded to another accident in the same area involving a pedestrian.
The pedestrian was hit by a vehicle about 8:08pm Nov. 9 in the area of Watsonville Road and Venetian Way, according to police. When officers arrived to the scene, police found the involved vehicle and an unresponsive female pedestrian suffering from significant injuries in the roadway.
Police and paramedics from the Morgan Hill Fire Department began life-saving efforts. The 71-year-old pedestrian was transported to a local trauma center, where she was pronounced dead on arrival, according to police.
The coroner’s office identified the woman as Margaret Snively, 71, of Morgan Hill.
Officers of the MHPD Traffic Unit are investigating this accident as well. Prior to the evening collision, Snively was seen crossing Watsonville Road northbound near Venetian Way, when she was struck by a vehicle traveling westbound on Watsonville Road, according to police. Witnesses at the scene were contacted and corroborated the statement of the driver of the vehicle that collided with Snively. The driver remained at the scene and was cooperative with the police investigation.
Snively was highly active in the American Association of University Women, and was a member of the Morgan Hill chapter of the organization, according to the AAUW Morgan Hill Facebook page.
“Margie was an exceptional woman,” reads a post on the local Facebook page. “She was passionate about social justice and, in the short time she had been with our branch, made her mark as programs chair, as a fierce advocate for women and girls, and as a caring friend.”
Anyone that may have additional information about these accidents can call MHPD Traffic Corporal Scott Silva or Traffic Officer John Kuhlen at (408) 776-7300 or the anonymous tip line 408.947-STOP (7867).
