Santa Clara man suspected of being distracted in fatal cyclist crash
A Santa Clara resident surrendered to authorities after allegedly being involved in a crash that killed a bicyclist in the town of Los Altos Hills in February, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office said.
The Sheriff's Office said that around 9:40 a.m. on Feb. 13, authorities were alerted to a collision involving a bicyclist along Foothill Expressway north of Old Oak Court in Los Altos Hills.
First responders arrived and found a woman severely injured. They gave life-saving measures but the victim, identified as 38-year-old Maria Jabon of Los Altos, succumbed to her injuries.
The Sheriff's Office said that over several months, detectives conducted forensic analyses, executed search warrants before they obtained evidence that allegedly indicated the driver was distracted and swerved into the bicycle lane and struck the bicyclist.
The driver, 64-year-old Mesfin Mekonnen, turned himself in on Friday and was booked into the Main Jail Facility on suspicion of felony vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.
"The Sheriff's Office is saddened by this preventable tragedy and reminds all drivers that avoiding distractions while driving is crucial for your safety and the safety of others," the law enforcement agency said.
Anyone with information about the fatal collision is asked to contact the sheriff's Traffic Investigation Unit at (408) 868-6600.
