A fatal motorcycle accident with a school bus on Wright Road
took the life of Salinas resident Aaron Castro, 24, shortly after 7
a.m. Wednesday.
Castro, who was riding eastbound on a newly purchased blue Buell
Firebolt motorcycle, crashed into the back of a school bus that was
stopped in the middle of the eastbound lane, said Wes Walker, a
detective sergeant with the San Benito County Sheriff’s
Department.
A fatal motorcycle accident with a school bus on Wright Road took the life of Salinas resident Aaron Castro, 24, shortly after 7 a.m. Wednesday.
Castro, who was riding eastbound on a newly purchased blue Buell Firebolt motorcycle, crashed into the back of a school bus that was stopped in the middle of the eastbound lane, said Wes Walker, a detective sergeant with the San Benito County Sheriff’s Department.
Castro was on his way to work at Greenwood Chevrolet in Hollister at the time of the accident.
“He must have been distracted somehow, because there were no skid marks,” said California Highway Patrol Capt. Bob Davies. “He ran right into the back of the bus.”
Fog was heavy in the early morning, but lack of visibility was most likely not the cause of the accident, Davies said.
“Visibility could have been a factor, but I really don’t think so,” he said. “The line of sight was really clear.”
Reports of fog visibility being at 300 feet, as well as 1,000 feet were issued, but Castro should have had clear visibility of the bus in front of him, Davies said.
After crashing into the right rear bumper of the school bus, the motorcycle skidded under the bus and Castro fell just to the right of the bus, said the first CHP officer on the scene.
“Speed isn’t a factor and he was wearing a helmet with a full chin and face mask,” he said.
Arriving at the scene about four minutes after the accident, he said he could not detect a pulse or respiration.
The school bus, en route to Marguerite Maze Middle School, was driven by Hollister resident Marbila Astudillo. Astudillo stopped the bus to pick up a student at 1611 Wright Road and activated the flashing yellow lights. She had not put the stop sign and red lights on yet when she felt a “bump” and realized a motorcycle had crashed into the back end, Walker said.
“There was no fault on her part. She was trying to do everything she could,” he said. “(When it happened) she got out momentarily and then went back in and tended to the kids.”
None of the children were injured and did not seem to be traumatized by the tragedy, he said.
“The kids actually took it pretty well,” he said.
The officer had Astudillo pull the bus forward when he arrived, out of view of Castro’s body when they realized the extent of the situation.
Most of the children on the bus were 10- and 11-year-olds from Marguerite Maze. Counseling will be available through the school for any children who request it, as well as for the bus driver, said Hollister School District Assistant Superintendent Peter Gutierrez.
“My conjecture is that the motorcycle driver hit the bus from behind and the students didn’t see it, so they’re probably not as traumatized than if they actually saw it happen,” he said.
No calls had been received from parents, but Principal Bernice Smith announced the accident to students and faculty, and would be sending a letter to parents to lower anxiety levels and ensure safety, Gutierrez said.
Castro, who had worked at Greenwood Chevrolet for more than five years, had been riding his new motorcycle to work for the past couple of months, said Marty Greenwood, Castro’s employer at the car dealership.
“He was a great young man,” Greenwood said. “He never complained, was always there to help. It’s a tremendous loss and he will be greatly missed.”
Castro had family and a fiancee in Salinas, Greenwood said.
An autopsy was performed Wednesday morning, however an official cause of death has not been issued yet, said Detective Isabel Gomez of the sheriff’s department.
