Motorcyclist killed in Hwy 101 crash in San Jose ID'd

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- A motorcyclist who died in a crash on northbound U.S. Highway 101 in San Jose early Saturday morning has been identified by the Santa Clara County medical examiner's office as 32-year-old Larry Cotten.

The crash was reported shortly after 12:20 a.m. Saturday on northbound Highway 101 near East Brokaw Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.

CHP officers saw the motorcyclist, later identified as Cotten, speeding past them and then shortly afterward came upon the crash. Investigators believe the motorcycle struck the back of a car and the rider and a passenger were ejected from the bike, CHP officials said.

As the officers parked their patrol car in the center divider, a Ford Mustang then struck the motorcyclist, who was taken to a hospital but was pronounced dead, according to the CHP.

The motorcycle passenger, a 23-year-old San Jose woman, was seen by officers walking toward the center divider and was taken to a hospital with moderate injuries, CHP officials said.

The drivers of the two vehicles involved in the crash along with the motorcycle stopped at the scene and cooperated with investigators.

The crash blocked lanes of northbound Highway 101 until shortly after 2 a.m., when the scene was cleared and the highway was fully reopened.