Crime & Safety
82-Year-Old Mtn. View Man Tragically Killed On Hwy 101 Identified
A metal cap from a Caltrans truck apparently flew through his windshield striking him in the neck, killing him Friday: officials. [Breaking]
SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA – An 82-year-old man who died while driving his car on U.S. Highway 101 in Menlo Park on Friday was likely struck by an object that came off a state-owned truck, a Caltrans spokesman said.
The man, identified by the San Mateo County coroner's office as Louis Schaefer of Mountain View, died after being struck in the neck by what appears to be a large metal screw-on nozzle cap that came off the back of a
Caltrans water truck, Caltrans spokesman Myeast McCauley said.
It seems the nozzle cap came off the truck, which was traveling south in the far right lane near Willow Road, flew across several lanes of traffic and broke through Schaefer's windshield as he was driving in the
northbound fast lane, McCauley said. (See photos of metal cap here.)
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These kinds of caps are usually secured by a metal chain, McCauley said, and it's still unclear how it got loose.
After being struck, Schaefer struck the center divider before eventually coming to a stop. No other vehicles were involved.
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Since the accident, Schaefer's family has been besieged with interview requests and issued a brief written statement today in the hope that those requests will stop, said family friend Barbara Feder Ostrov.
"We are grieving the loss of our father. He was a brilliant electrical engineer who spent most of his career at SRI International in Menlo Park," the family statement said. "Family members will not be holding a
press conference or giving interviews. We have no further comment at this time and ask that our privacy be respected."
The family also praised the drivers who stopped to try to help Schaefer and thanked the California Highway Patrol and the San Mateo County coroner's office.
"Caltrans offers its deepest condolences to Mr. Schaefer's family and friends," McCauley said.
The CHP investigation into the death is still underway, McCauley said.
Also see: Coroner IDs Young Women From Campbell, SJ Killed In Hwy 1 Crash
--Bay City News/Shutterstock image
