Moments after a 2002 BMW crashed into a concrete wall Wednesday morning and came to a stop partly in the fast lane of eastbound Highway 237 in Sunnyvale, a 51-year-old Fremont man pulled over on the right shoulder and began to cross the road on foot.
In the following seconds, two more cars traveling in the fast lane crashed into the BMW, a chain-reaction that killed the Fremont man, who was struck during the collisions, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The 46-year-old male driver of the BMW, Alex Turcios, of Concord, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, according to a CHP news release.
The Fremont man was identified as Tariq Khanzada.
The two other drivers were taken to Regional Medical Center in San Jose. They were identified as Jason Green, 32, of Santa Clara, an editor for Bay Area News Group, and Maria Glassbarnes, 47, of Hayward.
The CHP did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office eventually will make a decision about what charges, if any, should be filed.
The collision happened near the Lawrence Expressway exit and was reported to the CHP just after 2 a.m.
Turcios was driving on the northbound Lawrence Expressway transition ramp to eastbound 237 about 65 mph when he lost control and crashed into a concrete wall on the right side of the ramp, according to the CHP. The BMW continued to
travel north across the eastbound lanes of 237 and came to rest partially in the center median and the far left lane.
At that point, the Fremont man, who was driving a 1997 Mercedes, stopped on the right shoulder and for “an unknown reason” entered the eastbound lanes of traffic on foot, according to the CHP. At about the same time, a Nissan driven by Green traveling in the fast lane at about 72 mph collided with the BMW. After both vehicles came to a rest, a 2005 Mercedes driven by Glassbarnes and which was traveling in the far left lane at about 60 mph, also collided with the BMW.
It is not known which vehicle hit the Fremont man, according to the CHP.
The impact threw the Fremont man over the concrete center divider and into the westbound lanes of 237. He died at the scene, according to the CHP.
The two drivers who collided with the BMW were wearing their seat belts and were not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to the CHP.
Highway 237 was closed for about three hours for the investigation in the collision. All lanes were reopened at 5:37 a.m.
The collision remains under investigation.
