WATSONVILLE — A bicyclist was killed Monday night after being struck by a vehicle on Main Street near Auto Center Drive, according to Watsonville Police Sgt. Jarrod Pisturino.
Police have not released the victim’s name. Family members at the scene of the crash identified her as Jenny Gervasio, 56.
Police responded to a bike versus vehicle collision at about 6:30 p.m. When they arrived, they found Gervasio lying in the roadway. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver remained at the scene, and was cooperative throughout the investigation, Watsonville Police Sgt. Brian Ridgway said.
According to Ridgway, the woman was riding west on Main Street when she crossed the road against the red light at Auto Center Drive.
There, she was struck by a southbound vehicle that had the green light, Ridgway said.
About 10 friends and family members gathered at a shrine at the scene of the crash Tuesday afternoon, some questioning whether excessive speed or drag racing were factors in the crash.
“We just want justice for her,” said Gervasio’s daughter Geneve Valle. “Racing is illegal no matter what.”
But investigators determined nothing of the sort had occurred, Ridgway said.
“There is no evidence to support that they were drag racing,” Ridgway said. “There is evidence supporting that the cars did have a green light.”
He added that the straight stretch of road offered a clear line of sight that allows pedestrians to see vehicles approaching from a good distance.
Valle said her mother was coming home from a shopping trip to Grocery Outlet when she was struck.
Ridgway said that Gervasio “came out of nowhere” into the path of the moving vehicle.
The speed limit on the road is 40 miles per hour, but vehicles regularly go as fast as 50, Ridgway said.
“At 50, that is a devastating crash,” he said. “At 50 you’ve travelled 75 feet before your foot hits the brake.”
“There is nothing in this crash given the speed of the road that is out of the ordinary,” Ridgway added.
The collision is still under investigation. Drugs or alcohol do not appear to be a factor in the collision, Ridgway said.
“It doesn’t appear that any criminal charges will be pursued in this case,” he said.
Gervasio’s family has set up a fund to help defray funeral costs. Visit www.gofundme.com/dwx89j-genni-gervasio for information.
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Anyone with information is asked to call the Watsonville Police Department at 471-1151, the anonymous tip line at 768-3544, or the Watsonville Police Department’s Investigations Bureau at 768-3352.
