The Los Gatos motorcyclist who was killed last month in a Santa Cruz County crash has been identified by authorities as 68-year-old Craig Smith.
On Dec. 18, around 9:41am, CHP officers responded to the Soquel San Jose Road accident scene north of Old Turnpike Road.
Smith was driving a blue 2012 BMW motorcycle southbound on Soquel San Jose Road at an undetermined speed, police said.
A 64-year-old man from Aptos was driving a green 2023 Subaru Forester with two passengers and three dogs on board, northbound on the same road, at an undetermined speed.
“For reasons under investigation, the BMW and its driver collided with the asphalt roadway,” CHP Capt. Jason Grimm said as part of his initial report. “After the initial crash, the BMW and the driver continued in a south-easterly direction, resulting in a collision with the Subaru.”
Smith, who was wearing a helmet, sustained major injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel.
The driver of the Subaru was uninjured. No injuries were reported to the passengers or dogs.
At the time, police said it was unclear if alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash.
“The California Highway Patrol urges everyone to always drive within the speed limit, avoid
distractions and obey all traffic laws,” Grimm said.
A fundraiser for the Smith family, organized by family friend Christy Dally, had raised a little over $3,100 towards funeral costs early this week.
That had jumped to $4,618 by Thursday morning.
