Crime & Safety
Santa Cruz Motorcyclist in Hwy 17 Crash Dies
Santa Cruz musician Michael Schaupp has been declared brain dead after being the victim of a hit-and-run accident Tuesday afternoon in Los Gatos; friends hope to raise $10,000 to help his family.
The Santa Cruz motorcyclist struck by a hit-and-run driver Tuesday afternoon during a crash on Highway 17 in Los Gatos has died after being declared brain dead, his friends posted on the GoFundMe crowdfunding website.
Michael Schaupp, 36, was fatally struck at around 1:35 p.m. when a woman driving a 1994 Ford pulled in front of him while traveling north on Highway 17 near Idylwild Road in Los Gatos, the California Highway Patrol said.
Schaupp, riding a 1996 Honda, was traveling at normal traffic speed, the CHP said, but the impact threw him 20 feet onto the west edge of southbound Highway 17.
After coming to a stop, however, the woman fled the scene on northbound Highway 17 toward Los Gatos and about five minutes later the Ford was located near the Bear Creek Road off ramp abandoned, the CHP added.
The CHP is continuing to look for the driver and has leads, but would not release any additional information about the driver Thursday.
Schaupp, first taken to Valley Medical Center and then to Stanford Hospital, was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the CHP said.
Schaupp's friend Sarah Bergstrom described him as a "dear friend and bandmate" who loved playing music on the GoFundMe campaign page she created for him to help the family raise money to pay for medical expenses.
On Wednesday, her goal was to raise $10,000. As of early Friday morning, the campaign had raised more than $3,000.
"We lost a very special person today. Mike was a wonderful man full of life and as s always smiling making this ugly world look so beautiful," she wrote on the page. "We are still asking for donations to help his loved ones through this difficult time. We will also be doing several tribute shows in his honor so we will keep you posted on Facebook."
Those who may have witnessed the crash are asked to contact the CHP at 408-467-5400.
GoFundMe is a Patch partner. Click on the link above to donate.
Sign up for the free Los Gatos Patch newsletter | Like Los Gatos Patch on Facebook | Follow @GatosPatch on Twitter | Blog on Los Gatos Patch | Follow Los Gatos Patch on Instagram
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
