CAMPBELL — A crash on Highway 17 near downtown Campbell early Friday killed two people after they exited their vehicle on highway lanes in the early-morning darkness, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The collision was reported around 4:12 a.m. near the Hamilton Avenue exit in the southbound direction, according to the CHP. According to a news release, the two people who were struck and killed had been in a 2000 Mercedes, but the vehicle came to a stop in the right lanes for unknown reasons.
The two people in the Mercedes exited the vehicle; a 2015 Fiat, also traveling southbound, swerved to avoid the Mercedes and struck the two people.
One of the people struck, a man, was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:12 a.m., according to the CHP. The other person, a woman, was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead a short time later. Their identities will be released pending confirmation and notification of their next of kin.
The driver of the Fiat, a 22-year-old San Jose man, suffered minor injuries. The crash remains under investigation; authorities said it was not clear if excessive speed or alcohol or drug use were factors.
Authorities have repeatedly cautioned drivers and passengers to stay inside disabled vehicles until help arrives. Three people were killed earlier this week when they exited their vehicles and were struck by other cars after a crash on Highway 101 in Sunnyvale.
All lanes were temporarily closed on southbound Highway 17, but were reopened for traffic by about 7 a.m.