The 59-year-old man killed Wednesday in an accident on Airline
Highway south of Bolado Road has been identified as David Joseph
Fonceca, according to the county coroner.
The 59-year-old man killed Wednesday in an accident on Airline Highway south of Bolado Road has been identified as David Joseph Fonceca, according to the county coroner.
Fonceca, who lived at Thousand Trails in Paicines, died Wednesday after his motorcycle collided head-on with a Hummer truck on Airline Highway south of Bolado Road. The accident caused a wild fire that spread to 70 acres before firefighters contained it about three hours later, according to authorities.
The accident happened around 4:40 p.m. when a southbound 2008 Harley-Davidson motorcycle driven by Fonceca crossed the double-yellow line and struck the 1995 Hummer. He was pronounced dead immediately when American Medical Response first arrived, according to a California Highway Patrol spokesman.
The 61-year-old male driving the northbound Hummer had been visiting from France but also has an address in Los Gatos, said Officer Jamie Rios with the CHP.
Following the accident a wild fire ignited and spread rapidly, according to Calfire, which was joined by San Benito County paid-call firefighters in extinguishing the flames. It grew to 70 acres before the 70 or so firefighters contained it at about 7:30 p.m., while there were on structures damaged, according to Calfire.
It is unknown whether drugs or alcohol played a role, and the CHP is continuing to investigate.
