County Coroner Officially IDs Gilroy Man Killed Last Week

A man who died when a railroad maintenance vehicle crashed into his pickup truck last Friday south of Gilroy was 54-year-old Donald Lee Williams, according to the Santa Clara County medical examiner’s office.

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Williams resided in Gilroy, a medical examiner’s office employee said.

At 12:59 p.m. Friday, California Highway Patrol officers were alerted about an injury accident on the railroad tracks at Masten Avenue and Monterey Highway in the unincorporated area of San Martin, according to the CHP.

A 54-year-old man from New Mexico had been driving a 2013 Spike Lager railroad maintenance vehicle south on the tracks running along the east side of the highway, CHP officials said.

[Previous: Man Tragically Killed Today in San Martin Was From Gilroy.]

At the same time, the driver of a 2008 Toyota Tacoma, later identified as Williams, was heading west on Masten approaching the highway and went into the left turn lane, passing the upright railroad crossing arms, according to the CHP.

As Williams crossed the railroad tracks, the maintenance vehicle crashed into the passenger side of the pickup, causing it to topple over onto the driver’s side and trapping Williams inside.

The Spike Lager pushed the vehicle south on the tracks until both came to a rest south of Masten Avenue.

Williams remained pinned down in the pickup until emergency personnel could free him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The CHP is investigating the crash but officers do not suspect that alcohol or drug use was a factor.

--Bay City News

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