A 31-year-old Gilroy man died in the early Friday morning car wreck on Highway 25 near U.S. 101, according to the California Highway Patrol, who released his name and the names of those involved on Monday afternoon.
The CHP released the collision report from the Friday morning accident that closed Highway 25 for about three hours during the morning commute.
According to the CHP statement, Eliaquin Perez, 31, of Gilroy, died at the scene of the accident.
At 5:40 a.m. on Friday, Salvadore Territo, 81, of Saratoga, was driving southbound on Highway 25 in a 1995 Jeep when he crossed over the double yellow lines as Perez approached in the northbound lane north of Carnadero Creek Bridge.
CHP Officer Erica Elias said Territo was reported as a missing person, though she did not have any further details.
Territo collided into a 1998 Saturn and a 1997 Ford. All three vehicles collided into the bridge abutment trying to avoid a collision with the front of Territo’s vehicle.
Perez was announced dead at the scene and his passenger Freddy Perez, 27, of Gilroy, was airlifted to Valley Medical Center with minor injuries. Territo was taken to San Jose Regional Medical Center, also with minor injuries
The other drivers and passengers in the Saturn and the Ford were not injured.
Highway 25 was closed from Bolsa Road to Bloomfield Avenue until after 9 a.m. The collision is still under investigation, but alcohol was not a factor.
