Possible Tour Bus Passenger Killed by BMW in South Bay

The California Highway Patrol is investigating the possibility that a Gilroy man who was killed on Interstate Highway 280 in San Mateo County late Thursday night was a passenger on a tour bus that had stopped nearby.

The 45-year-old victim was struck by a 2003 BMW on southbound I-280 north of Bunker Hill Drive around 10:50 p.m.

Initial reports indicate the man walked directly into the path of the BMW, which was driven by a 29-year-old Woodside man, according to the CHP.

CHP Officer Grace Castillo said the Woodside man pulled over immediately after hitting the victim, as did another driver who had witnessed the collision.

The driver of the BMW reported then seeing several other vehicles strike the victim and continue without stopping, Castillo said.

The victim was pronounced dead on the highway. Investigators have tentatively identified him based on an ID found at the scene but are awaiting confirmation from the coroner's office.

Castillo said that shortly before the man was hit, a tour bus had pulled over at a location nearby. She did not know why or exactly where the bus had stopped.

After the accident, passengers from the bus approached the CHP and said there was a passenger missing, she said.

The CHP is working to confirm that the victim is the missing bus passenger. "Everything indicates that that's the case," Castillo said.

She did not have information on the name of the tour bus company or where the bus was headed. 

The CHP shut down all lanes of southbound I-280 after the accident. Three lanes reopened at 1:10 a.m. and the road was completely cleared at 2:19 a.m., Castillo said.

Investigators are now focused on finding the other motorists who struck the victim and anyone else who may have witnessed the accident.  Castillo urged the involved motorists to come forward.

"What the CHP is trying to do is put all the pieces together," Castillo said. "They're not in trouble, we just want to get the whole picture."

Anyone with information on the accident is urged to contact Officer Mike Sarabia at (650) 369-6261, ext. 332.