The Santa Clara County coroner's office has identified a man burned to death in a May 4 accident on Highway 17 as 69-year-old William Hewitt of Los Gatos.
The accident occurred about 10:15 p.m. on southbound 17 just north of Summit Road, according to the California Highway Patrol. Hewitt's car apparently ran off the road, went down an embankment, struck a tree and caught on fire. A passing motorist noticed smoke coming from the side of the road and discovered the flaming car.
Southbound lanes were closed for a short time as Central Fire District crews worked to extinguish the fire, which involved not only the car but some surrounding vegetation. The CHP was also on the scene.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, May 15, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved