A San Jose neighborhood is mourning the loss of 74-year-old Ellen Orcut, who was killed in a high-speed head-on crash Saturday afternoon on Foxworthy Avenue.
What Happened
According to San Jose Police, a white 2018 GMC Denali was traveling eastbound near Jarvis Avenue around 2:35 p.m. when the driver attempted to pass a 2018 Subaru Forester. During the maneuver, the SUV collided with the Subaru and then veered into the opposite lane, slamming head-on into a blue Honda CR-V.
Neighbors reported that the Denali appeared to be traveling at approximately 70 mph in a 35 mph zone.
Victim Identified
The driver of the Honda, Ellen Orcut, died at the scene. Her brother, Marc Boyd, said she was heading to the bank to get money for her grandchildren when the crash occurred. Orcut, who lived nearby, was still working for a nonprofit organization at the time of her death.
Aftermath Caught on Video
Video footage from a neighbor’s home surveillance camera shows the white GMC pushing the blue Honda down the street before the SUV’s hood caught fire. The Honda flipped and landed upside down on a nearby lawn.
Neighbor Israel Lomeli, who recorded the video, said:
“It could have been me, it could have been anybody here in the neighborhood. I’ve lived here 20 years, and this is the first fatal crash — but not the first accident on Foxworthy.”
Emergency crews arrived quickly, extinguishing the flames and tending to the victims. The GMC driver was taken to the hospital in critical condition, while the Subaru driver was not injured.
Ongoing Investigation
Police continue to investigate the crash and are looking into speed and reckless driving as possible contributing factors.
Anyone with additional information is urged to contact San Jose Police Department’s Traffic Investigations Unit.
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