Man killed in South San Jose crash is identified

Authorities have identified a 57-yearold Morgan Hill man as the victim of a fatal July 13 car crash in the southern reaches of San Jose.

San Jose police also released for the first time details on a July 1 hitand-run crash that killed a San Francisco woman on McLaughlin Avenue.

The most recent traffic death, publicized Friday, was reported about 9:11 p.m. the night of July 13, when San Jose police say a car headed southbound on Santa Teresa Boulevard near Bailey Road veered off the roadway and crashed into a tree.

The driver died at the scene, and has since been identified as Anthony Mello Jr. What caused the crash remains under investigation.

His death marks the 28th traffic fatality of the year in San Jose. Also Friday, police released details about the 27th roadway death in the city, which was reported July 1.

Around 5:39 p.m. that day, officers were called to a vehicle collision near McLaughlin Avenue and Creston Drive involving a BMW and Infiniti. They arrived to find that a rear passenger in the Infiniti was gravely injured, and was pronounced dead at the scene. She was identified as 58-year-old San Francisco resident Sariaya Thai.

The BMW driver abandoned his car, police said, but surrendered to police later in the evening. He was identified as 23-year-old Osvaldo Arzate Chavez, and has since been freed awaiting pending court appearances.

Anyone with information about either fatal crash can contact the SJPD traffic investigation unit at 408-277-4654. Contact Mark Gomez at 408-920-5869 and Robert Salonga at 408-9205002.