By Khalida Sarwari
Campbell is reeling from two recent bike tragedies that occurred within a span of about 30 hours.
The first accident occurred on the evening of July 26 and involved 56-year-old Cupertino resident Charles Shaffer, who was struck and killed by a vehicle as he was crossing Campbell Avenue, according to a Campbell police spokesman.
The incident occurred at about 6:25 p.m. in front of the Kirkwood Plaza Shopping Center near La Pradera Drive, Campbell Police Capt. Charley Adams said. Shaffer was crossing a four-lane road when a beige four-door Buick sedan traveling east hit him and catapulted Shaffer onto the windshield of the car, he said. The impact shattered the windshield, and Shaffer bounced back in the roadway.
Emergency personnel responded to revive him but were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, said Adams.
The driver of the Buick, a 28-year-old man whom police did not identify, remained at the scene and was “cooperating with investigators,” Adams said. He was not cited or arrested. It does not appear that drugs or alcohol were a factor in the collision. Excessive speed also doesn’t appear to be a factor, said Adams.
Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the collision.
The second incident occurred the following day and involved a 50-year-old Campbell man. According to the San Jose Police Department, Alejandro Ramos was hit by a vehicle near W. Campbell Avenue and Paseo de Saratoga in West San Jose at about 10:10 p.m.
Police officers responded to a report of a bicyclist down in the street and assisted in transporting Ramos to a hospital. He received treatment for his injuries, but was ultimately declared brain dead and is expected to be removed from life support, police said.
Detectives investigating the scene believe that Ramos likely made contact with an SUV, but that the driver of the vehicle was not aware Ramos was struck. It is unknown at this point if the driver of the SUV intentionally left the scene or if he or she even knew there had been a collision, police said.
Police are asking anyone who was at or near the Paseo de Saratoga shopping center on July 27 at about 10 p.m. and who may have seen a white small or midsize SUV hit a bicyclist to contact the police department.
Anyone with information about this collision is asked to contact the San Jose Police Department’s traffic investigations unit at 408.277.4654. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408.947.7867 or visit http://svcrimestop pers.org.
Campbell police are also asking anyone who may have witnessed the first collision or with information related to the incident to call traffic Sgt. Richard Shipman at 408.866.2710.
