Driver held on suspicion of murder after hitting pedestrians

Sheriff: Vehicle struck two people in different areas of Rancho San Antonio Park in Cupertino, drove away

A motorist who allegedly struck two pedestrians Tuesday afternoon in different areas of Rancho San Antonio Park in Cupertino has been arrested on suspicion of murder, authorities said.

Deputies responded at 12:52 p.m. to reports that a vehicle had hit two pedestrians in the park and then drove away, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.

After park rangers arrived on scene and administered medical help for the victims, sheriff’s deputies stopped the vehicle, an Audi A5, at about 1:05 p.m. and detained the driver without having to use any force, said Michael Low, a spokesman with the sheriff’s office.

The vehicle’s driver’s side window was shattered and the windshield cracked — Low said that any damage to the car was sustained before deputies detained the driver.

One victim in critical condition was transported to a local hospital, where the person was pronounced dead by medical personnel at 1:50 p.m., according to the sheriff’s office. The other victim was treated at the park for non-life-threatening injuries and released after answering questions from law enforcement officers.

The driver, who was taken to a local hospital for “precautionary measures,” was arrested on suspicion of murder and “other felonies,” the sheriff’s office said. The suspect was expected to be transported and booked into to the Main Jail in San Jose.

Low said Tuesday afternoon that there is no indication of what the motive of the driver was in hitting the pedestrians or if the driver knew either person. The suspect and the victims are all adults.

The preserve has more than five different parking areas at the front and a service road that winds through it.

The two victims were struck at different areas of the park, Low said, but sheriff’s deputies would not say Tuesday afternoon where the two separate strikes occurred within the park.

The sheriff’s office said “this is an active and ongoing investigation” and urged people to avoid Rancho San Antonio Park if possible because numerous emergency personnel were at the scene.

The park was expected to be closed for the remainder of Tuesday, and sheriff’s deputies were monitoring the closed gates into the park.

Rancho San Antonio Park is located between Mountain View and Cupertino. A popular open space preserve on the peninsula managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, it has 24 miles of trails and draws 700,000 visitors each year.

Leigh Ann Gessner, a public affairs specialist for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, called this an “unusual incident” for the agency.

“Our thoughts are with the victims and public safety is always the highest priority for Midpen in all of our preserves and we appreciate the public understanding while the sheriffs office continues their investigation,” Gessner said.