San Jose motorcyclist dies after Highway 9 crash in Santa Cruz Mountains

SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS — A 31-year-old San Jose man died last week after crashing his motorcycle while traveling along Highway 9.

According to a release from the California Highway Patrol’s Santa Cruz unit, officers responded at about 5:54 p.m. Thursday to reports of a crash on the rugged and curvy highway south of Highway 35.

The man, identified Monday by the county Sheriff Coroner’s Office as Nicholas Tugangui, was driving southbound on a 2017 Suzuki GSX-R600 motorcycle at an unknown speed when, for reasons still under investigation, he lost control of the two-wheeler and crashed onto the asphalt roadway. Tugangui and his motorcycle continued to skid down the highway in the southbound direction before the motorcycle crashed into a tree and Tugangui tumbled down an embankment before coming to rest.

As a result of the crash, Tugangui was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident by medical personnel, according to the release.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, and it is unknown if alcohol or drugs were contributing factors.