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Two people were killed in East Palo Alto on Tuesday morning after a van crashed into six vehicles at the intersection of Bay Road and University Avenue, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.
The San Mateo County Coroner’s Office identified the victims as Bobby McGee, 69, of Menlo Park, and Carolyn Cupil, 63, of Belmont.
The collision took place at about 8:20 a.m., bringing East Palo Alto police officers and sheriff’s deputies to the scene. Based on witnesses and information from the scene, deputies learned that a minivan struck six vehicles, including a SamTrans Ride Plus van, before it came to a stop on Bay Road.
The male driver of the van was seriously injured and pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Sheriff’s Office. A female passenger in the van suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries, according to the news release.
At least three other people suffered injuries that were described as non-life-threatening, according to the Sheriff’s Office, which is under contract with SamTrans to investigate collisions that involve SamTrans vehicles.
The intersection was closed until about 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday as the Sheriff’s Office’s Major Accident Investigation Team conducted an investigation, which remained ongoing as of Tuesday afternoon.
Following the news of the collision and the two deaths, locals and family members flooded neighborhood Facebook pages reflecting on the bonds they had formed with the victims and their lasting impact on East Palo Alto.
“I miss you already uncle Bob, rest in peace,” Jackie McGee Skinner wrote in a Facebook post. “Love you always and forever. Thank you for always looking after me. No very early days in East Palo Alto [without] my number one protector.”
Many others reflected on their early school days at the now-shuttered Ravenswood High School with McGee.
“So sorry to hear of the passing of a fellow Trojan and friend,” local Pastor James Williams wrote in a post. “Rest in Peace and Power.”
The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who witnessed the collision or has additional information to call (650) 363-4911.
This is a developing story that will be updated as more information becomes available.
Staff Writer Lisa Moreno contributed to this report.
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