Two traffic accidents on U.S. 101 in north Morgan Hill snarled early-morning holiday traffic Monday; killing a San Martin man and sending two others to the hospital.
The first was a more serious accident that occurred on northbound U.S. 101 just south of Coyote Creek Golf Drive about 8:11 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.
A blue Lexus sport-utility vehicle and a blue 1988 Toyota Corolla collided as they were traveling northbound, according to CHP reports. The Toyota turned left from the right lanes for an unknown reason and began traveling westbound across the northbound lanes. The car was struck by the Lexus on the left front side.
An occupant of the Toyota was reportedly unconscious when officers arrived at the scene. The man, with the last name of Ojeda, 66 from San Martin, was pronounced dead at the San Jose Regional Medical Center according to a CHP report. His first name had not yet been released as of Monday afternoon through the Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office as the office was closed for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
The identities of those with minor injuries that were in the Lexus were identified by the CHP as Steven Metzger, 59, of Dallas, Texas and Nancy Albertini, 59, also of Dallas. Albertini, the passenger, complained of pain to her neck and was taken to San Jose Regional Medical Center. Metzger was treated at the scene for minor injuries and released.
The accident also caused dry concrete debris and drywall to scatter onto the shoulder of the freeway, according to a CHP report, though it is unclear which vehicle was carrying the materials.
All northbound lanes were open as of about 10 a.m., according to the CHP.
Neither alcohol or drugs was suspected, officers said.
A second accident happened less than an hour later, when an unspecified make of vehicle traveling northbound on U.S. 101 overturned at the Cochrane Road off-ramp, according to the CHP web site.
