A San Jose man was killed Sunday morning when his pickup truck veered off Highway 17 in Santa Cruz County and slammed into a tree, authorities said.
The crash happened around 10:39 a.m. Dec. 14 in the southbound lanes just south of Vine Hill Road, near the north edge of Scotts Valley, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Santa Cruz office.
CHP investigators said the 49-year-old man was driving a 2025 Toyota Tacoma when, for reasons still under investigation, the truck left the roadway and struck a tree near the right shoulder. The vehicle then veered back across the lanes and hit the center barrier.
Despite life-saving efforts by medical personnel, the driver was pronounced dead at the scene, the CHP said. He was not immediately identified.
Authorities said it is not yet known whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the crash. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact the CHP at (831) 796-2160.
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