A Gilroy motorcycle rider was found dead Wednesday morning in the Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area after he was involved “in what appeared to be a high-speed collision with a tree,” according to the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office.
Doug Williams, 23, was a frequent rider at Hollister Hills and his family told investigators he had been riding since age 10. His body was discovered at 8:45 a.m. in the middle of the park as the base of an embankment.
Williams was reported missing at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday by his father, after the son left for what he said would be a “20-minute ride” at 4:30 p.m., San Benito County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Eric Taylor said.
The San Benito County Sheriff’s Office coordinated a search and rescue effort. It involved a California Highway Patrol helicopter, CHP airplane, and search and recue teams from Santa Clara, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. Joining them were Hollister Hills staff members and volunteers who included Williams’ family.
The CHP aircraft joined the search at 8 p.m. Tuesday. On through the early morning hours, searchers scoured ground looking for Williams. They called off the search at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday before resuming it again at 8 a.m.
Williams was pronounced dead by AMR Paramedics within an hour of the search resuming and his body was transported to Santa Clara County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy, Taylor said.
It appears the Gilroy man collided with a tree at a high rate of speed, Taylor added, causing him to be ejected from the vehicle. His body came to rest down an embankment away from the trail on which he was riding.
Investigators did not find skid marks at the scene of the wreck, indicating he may have been going too fast when tying to navigate a turn, Taylor said. His body was found between six and 10 feet from where his bike came to rest, and authorities noted significant damage to the top of his helmet.
According to the Hollister Hills recreation area superintendent, fatalities at the park are rare.
“I believe the last one we had was three or four years ago, maybe longer,” Matthew Allen said.
Hollister Hills staff members are leading the investigation into the cause of the collision while the sheriff’s office conducts the autopsy, according to Taylor.
In reacting to the death, motorcyclists with the group South Bay Riders took to their online forum Wednesday to pay their respects to a fallen comrade.
“RIP, Doug,” wrote one commenter at southbayriders.com on a post about Williams’ death. “I’m so sorry for your family. You were way too young.”
