San Jose: Second driver dies from violent head-on crash in Willow Glen, DUI now suspected

Tragedy Strikes San Jose's Willow Glen as Two Drivers Meet Fateful Demise in Head-On Collision, DUI Now Suspected

A devastating head-on crash on Foxworthy Avenue last weekend claimed two lives, leaving a trail of grief and devastation in its wake. The incident marked the second time this month that a driver has lost their life in a San Jose street accident, with authorities now suspecting that one of the drivers was under the influence of alcohol at the time.

According to police reports, 81-year-old Christian Herbert Hygelund, who was driving a white GMC Yukon eastbound on Foxworthy Avenue, attempted to pass another vehicle and veered into oncoming traffic, crashing head-on into a blue Honda CR-V. The driver of the Honda, 74-year-old Ellen Jo Orcutt, succumbed to her injuries at the scene.

Hygelund was subsequently taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, but sadly passed away on Wednesday due to complications from his wounds. An investigation revealed that Hygelund's blood-alcohol level indicated that he was intoxicated at the time of the crash.

As news of the tragedy spreads, friends and family are remembering Orcutt as a devoted community advocate who dedicated her life to helping those in need. A GoFundMe page set up by her daughter has raised funds for charities and organizations that were close to her heart, a testament to her selfless spirit.

The incident marks the city's 31st and 32nd traffic deaths of the year, with San Jose recording 44 such fatalities at this point in 2024. Authorities are now urging anyone with information about the collision to come forward and contact Detective Tori DelliCarpini from the SJPD traffic investigations unit.

As the community mourns the loss of these two lives, it serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of road safety and responsible driving practices.

Man... this is like, so sad I feel for Ellen's family and friends, she was definitely making a difference in her community by helping others. But at the same time, you gotta wonder how many more lives can be lost due to someone else's reckless behavior behind the wheel? It's just crazy that there are still people out there who don't take DUIs seriously enough. Like, come on guys, we all know what happens when you get behind the wheel after having a few too many drinks... it's not worth risking everyone else's lives, you know?

I mean, I'm not saying Christian didn't make some mistakes, but it's one thing to have a slip-up and another thing entirely to cause this kind of destruction. And now he's gone, leaving behind his own family who must be dealing with unimaginable pain.

It's just so frustrating when we see these kinds of incidents happening over and over again, and we're still not doing enough to prevent them from happening in the first place. We need more education, more resources, and more people speaking out against this kind of reckless behavior... but at the same time, let's also take a moment to honor Ellen's memory by continuing to be good citizens on the roads

Man, I'm not even going to get into the whole head-on collision thing ... think about it, though - Foxworthy Avenue just became the ultimate bar for drivers to test their skills (or lack thereof). I mean, 81 and 74 is old, but come on, who needs a GoFundMe when you can just use your life savings to pay for a hospital stay? Anyway, serious note: if you're gonna drink, don't drive. Trust me, I've had my fair share of hangover regrets...

.. what's up with 74-year-olds still trying to pass other cars ? Like, come on, Ellen was an awesome person and all, but getting into that accident is just so... reckless . I mean, can't we all just take a deep breath and chill behind the wheel for one sec? At least Christian didn't die, but still, his family must be devastated . And now they get to deal with all this paperwork because, you know, DUI is no joke . Anyway, I guess it's good that people are rallying around Ellen's memory and whatnot... GoFundMe page, yadda yadda

Ugh, this is just heartbreaking ... Two innocent people, gone in an instant. I was driving to school during my junior year, and our school had those super old stop signs that were literally falling apart. My friend's dad got a ticket for like, 5 bucks or something because he wouldn't move his car so they could fix the sign. Anyway, back then we didn't have all these DUI cases... I mean, sure, there were some, but this is just crazy . Those drivers need to be held accountable for their actions... And it's not just the driver, either - passengers and pedestrians are affected too . We should be promoting responsible driving practices more than ever! My grandma was a great driver; she never got a ticket in her life, and I'm pretty sure that's why my parents never had to deal with road rage . Anyways, just... ugh, this is just so sad

my heart goes out to Ellen's family this is just terrible and senseless i'm so sad that Christian didn't make it, he was 81 years young and we don't deserve to see people lose their lives on our roads the investigation might be able to catch whoever was DUI but more importantly, let's all take a hard look at ourselves and promise to drive safe