Scooter rider killed as two vehicles flee scene of deadly crash

A motorized scooter rider in San José was killed early Saturday morning after being struck by two separate drivers, both who fled the scene without stopping, according to police.

San José police responded to Lucretia Avenue near Taji Drive just before 2 a.m. Saturday to reports of a traffic collision involving a motorized scooter. A male who had been riding the scooter was found on the pavement with life-threatening injuries and transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival, police said.

A preliminary investigation determined a grey 2017 Honda driving northbound on Lucretia collided with the scooter, also traveling north in a vehicle lane, police said. After the collision, the Honda fled the scene before a second vehicle, a white SUV, also struck the downed scooter rider before fleeing, according to police.

San José police said they are investigating the case as a felony hit and run, with drivers of both vehicles being sought.

Lucretia Avenue connects Story and Tully Roads parallel to Highway 101 in East San José, with one lane of vehicle traffic in each direction. Marked but unseparated bicycle lanes also run north and south on Lucretia, along with a center turn lane. The collision occurred about a block south of Yerba Buena High School.

Citizens with information or video footage in connection with this hit and run are asked to contact Detective Malvido the San José Police Department’s Traffic Investigations Unit at 408-277-4654.

The identity of the scooter rider – the 24th traffic fatality of 2022 in San José – has not yet been released by the Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office.

Jesse Garnier

Jesse Garnier is the editor and founder of SFBay. A Mission District native, he also teaches journalism as associate professor at San Francisco State University.