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Gusty storm claims a life: Tree falls on van in Portola Valley, killing the driver

Coroner's office identifies man as San Jose resident

A man died after a tree fell on his car in Portola Valley at around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21, shortly after high winds and rain picked up in the early afternoon.

Medics pronounced the man dead at the scene after emergency responders removed large branches from the car to get to him. He was identified Wednesday as 29-year-old Jesus Ivan Cruz Diaz of San Jose.

He was traveling east on Alpine Road near La Cuesta Road when high winds knocked down a large tree that fell on his car, CHP Officer David LaRock said.

While crews were attempting to remove the man from the white van he was driving, three more trees fell in the same area, barely missing emergency crews and vehicles at the scene, according to Woodside Fire Protection District Fire Chief Rob Lindner and LaRock.

No one else was in the van with the man and no other injuries were reported, Linder said.

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Medics pronounced the man dead at the scene after emergency responders removed large branches from the car to get to him.

Alpine Road west of Highway 280 to La Cuesta was closed in both directions while emergency crews responded to the scene, LaRock said.

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Editor's note: This story was updated to reflect the fact that fatality occurred in Portola Valley, not Ladera.

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Gusty storm claims a life: Tree falls on van in Portola Valley, killing the driver

Coroner's office identifies man as San Jose resident

by Cameron Rebosio and Angela Swartz / Almanac

Uploaded: Tue, Mar 21, 2023, 4:10 pm
Updated: Wed, Mar 22, 2023, 11:44 am

A man died after a tree fell on his car in Portola Valley at around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21, shortly after high winds and rain picked up in the early afternoon.

Medics pronounced the man dead at the scene after emergency responders removed large branches from the car to get to him. He was identified Wednesday as 29-year-old Jesus Ivan Cruz Diaz of San Jose.

He was traveling east on Alpine Road near La Cuesta Road when high winds knocked down a large tree that fell on his car, CHP Officer David LaRock said.

While crews were attempting to remove the man from the white van he was driving, three more trees fell in the same area, barely missing emergency crews and vehicles at the scene, according to Woodside Fire Protection District Fire Chief Rob Lindner and LaRock.

No one else was in the van with the man and no other injuries were reported, Linder said.

Medics pronounced the man dead at the scene after emergency responders removed large branches from the car to get to him.

Alpine Road west of Highway 280 to La Cuesta was closed in both directions while emergency crews responded to the scene, LaRock said.

Editor's note: This story was updated to reflect the fact that fatality occurred in Portola Valley, not Ladera.

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PA Female Resident
Registered user
College Terrace
on Mar 21, 2023 at 10:25 pm
PA Female Resident, College Terrace
Registered user
on Mar 21, 2023 at 10:25 pm

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