Medical emergency may be cause of fatal collision

A 54-year-old San Jose man died early Saturday morning after his car abruptly veered across lanes of traffic on U.S. Highway 101 in San Jose and was hit by another vehicle, the California Highway Patrol said.

Though the death was being handled Saturday as a traffic accident fatality, CHP Officer Ross Lee said circumstances suggest the victim may have experienced a medical emergency of some sort immediately before the 3:35 a.m. two-vehicle accident on northbound 101 just north of McKee Road.

Lee said the 54-year-old man, driving a Chevrolet Cobalt, was headed north in the far right lane at about 65 mph. A Mercedes-Benz SUV, driven by a 47-year-old San Jose man, was two lanes over going about 70 mph when the Cobalt suddenly veered to its left and into the SUV’s path. The SUV struck the rear of the Cobalt, which crashed into the left median and reentered the freeway, Lee said.

The SUV driver checked on the Cobalt driver, Lee said, and found him bleeding and convulsing. The victim was pronounced dead a short time later at a nearby hospital, Lee said.

The SUV driver was not taken to the hospital for treatment of any injuries, Lee added.