Gilroy Man Dies In Crash Near Morgan Hill

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — A Gilroy man who was killed in a solo-vehicle crash south of Morgan Hill on Saturday morning has been identified by the Santa Clara County medical examiner's office. Valter Garafulic, 57, of Gilroy, died when his 2012 Toyota Tundra veered off of Calle Celestina east of Watsonville Road and into a wooden fence, according to the California Highway Patrol.

CHP officials said Garafulic might have experienced a "traumatic medical event" as he was traveling west on Calle Celestina around 6:30 a.m. Saturday.

His truck and the trailer he was towing made an unsafe turning movement to the right, where it struck the north dirt shoulder and a stop sign, then crossed Watsonville Road and came to rest at the wooden fence,
according to the CHP.

A neighbor observed Garafulic's vehicle and trailer around 7:45 a.m. and called 911. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

CHP officials said it is not yet clear if drugs or alcohol played a factor in the crash.

By Bay City News Service

Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone