Two dead in separate South Bay crashes on Highway 87

Separate vehicle crashes on a South Bay highway over the weekend ended with two men dead and another injured, the California Highway Patrol said.

Both of the wrecks happened on state Highway 87. The second of the two happened in the northbound direction about 11:30 p.m. Sunday, south of Taylor Street and involved two vehicles. The first one happened in the southbound direction about 2:15 a.m. Saturday, south of the Alma Avenue exit and involved a motorcycle and Ford Bronco.

Authorities said the Sunday crash victim was a 21-year-old Cupertino resident, while the motorcyclist was a 33-year-old San Jose resident. Authorities not identify either of the dead men early Monday, pending confirmation that their relatives have been notified.

In a statement, the CHP said the Sunday crash happened when the Mercedes hit the right rear of a 2013 Honda Civic, causing the Honda to lose control. The CHP said the left rear of the Honda hit the center concrete wall, while the Mercedes veered right and hit a concrete pillar.

The impact caused the Mercedes to catch fire, and it became engulfed in flames, the CHP said. A passenger in the vehicle was able to get out and went by ambulance to a hospital. The CHP said he had injuries they termed minor.

The CHP is awaiting toxicology tests to see if drugs or alcohol were a factor.

The crash closed down all lanes of northbound Highway 87 for about 2½ hours. The CHP diverted traffic onto Taylor Street.

About 45 hours earlier, a motorcyclist driving a 2000 Harley Davidson south crashed into the right rear of a 2024 Ford Bronco and flew off the motorcycle. Authorities pronounced him dead at the scene. The CHP said they do not suspect alcohol and drugs as a factor.

That wreck caused the southbound lanes of the Highway 87 to be closed for approximately an hour. The CHP diverted traffic onto Alma Avenue.