Palo Alto, CA (May 31, 2024) – A tragic sequence of events on U.S. Highway 101 in Palo Alto resulted in the death of a local driver last week.
Incident Details: The accident occurred in the early hours of Friday, May 31, just before 3:00 a.m., north of the San Antonio Road on-ramp. Suryanshu Gehlot of Redwood City was identified by the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office as the deceased. Gehlot was driving a red Hyundai SUV when he initially collided with a pole, causing significant damage to his vehicle. After the collision, Gehlot exited his vehicle for unknown reasons and made a call to authorities.
While outside of his Hyundai, the vehicle was struck from behind by a Silver Scion. This secondary collision pushed the Hyundai into a northeasterly direction across the lanes. Shortly thereafter, a yellow Freightliner, attempting to navigate past the scene, collided with both the Hyundai and the Scion. Gehlot was pronounced dead at the scene. It is currently unclear if his fatal injuries were a result of the initial collision with the pole or the subsequent impacts involving the other vehicles. The drivers of the Silver Scion and the yellow Freightliner did not sustain any injuries in the incident.
Investigation and Legal Implications: California Highway Patrol is actively investigating the crash, including the sequence of the collisions and why Gehlot exited his vehicle. Officer Sophie Lu noted that it remains to be determined whether Gehlot sustained any injuries from the initial impact that might have contributed to his decision to leave the SUV. However, if it’s found that any of his injuries were caused by any of the other involved vehicles, the family may benefit from speaking to a wrongful death attorney.
I extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Suryanshu Gehlot following this tragic incident. I hope that the investigation clarifies the cause of his death and the initial accident.
Source: RWC Pulse