Hollister
– A 16-year-old Morgan Hill youth died Sunday while riding his
motorcycle at the Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area
in the second fatal accident to occur at the course this year.
Hollister – A 16-year-old Morgan Hill youth died Sunday while riding his motorcycle at the Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area in the second fatal accident to occur at the course this year.
Jeremy Baeza, a junior at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, was likely killed as a result of landing a jump, said Lieutenant District Superintendent Mary Pass. Authorities are still investigating the official cause of death.
Counselors and district psychologists were at Live Oak High on Monday and Tuesday to meet with students, said Principal Nick Boden.
About 25 students were counseled Monday. Other students and some of the 25 met again Tuesday with counselors, who will continue to be available for students throughout the week.
“Our condolences go out to the family,” Boden said Tuesday. “It’s always a sad situation when we lose such a vital young person. Everyone was kind of in a daze yesterday.”
Friends described him as a BMX enthusiast who raced or rode motorcycles nearly every weekend.
A park visitor reported the accident, and Emergency Medical Technicians, park rangers, and CALSTAR all responded. Pass said Baeza was given CPR, but did not respond and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Just this May, an 11-year-old Tracy boy became the first person killed at the park’s vehicular area in its 21-year history when his dirt bike collided with another rider in the middle of a jump during practice for a race.
According to Pass, the popular dirt-biking course is open to all visitors, regardless of ability. Although races and practice runs have taken place at the jumps in the past, there was no organized activity going on at the course on Sunday.
“He (Baeza) was just out there by himself,” Pass said.
Hollister Hills is located six miles west of Hollister on Cieniga Road.
Funeral services are pending.
