Swim coach killed in crash Swim coach killed in crash (April 16, 2004)

Popular leader was cycling when hit by drunk driver

By Candice Shih

Alan Liu, 31, a local resident and swim coach at Mountain View Masters, was struck and killed by an alleged drunken driver on state Highway 12 in Santa Rosa last Sunday.

Liu was visiting his mother for Easter when he and his girlfriend, Jill Mason were hit. Mason, a 26-year-old Cupertino resident whom he met through the swim program, was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with major head injuries. The California Highway Patrol said both cyclists were wearing helmets.

Members of Mountain View Masters, a competitive swim team that trains at Eagle Pool, were reeling from the news early this week.

"His personality was the heart and soul of our swim team," said member Lisa Barella. "He was always promoting the team as a big family."

A competitive swimmer since the age of 5, Liu swam at Miramonte High School in Orinda and at MIT, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. He later finished a masters program at Stanford and was employed as an engineer at Applied Materials.

Liu joined the Mountain View Masters as a swimmer in 1995 but, two years later, when he said he wanted to coach, his teammates were taken by surprise.

"He's very quiet and kind of shy," said fellow coach Laura Schuster. "He would get on deck and get nervous. One morning he got on deck and tried to tell a joke. We told Alan, 'Oh, just keep trying.'"

Liu grew comfortable with the role, becoming a source of inspiration for the team.

"He was so supportive," said Barella, who recently competed in Santa Cruz. "I remember finishing the race and being happy, and him being happy that I was happy."

Teammates are now figuring out how to fill his shoes. Liu not only coached the team but ran the Web site, organized social events and led the triathlon club.

"We're going to pull through because no one wants to let him down," said Schuster.

The CHP arrested the driver in the crash, Harvey Hereford, 69, of Santa Rosa, for driving under the influence of alcohol. He posted bail, was released from the Sonoma County jail and is scheduled to appear in court on April 26.

Hereford allegedly struck Liu and Mason, who were riding westbound on Highway 12, around 11:21 a.m. The CHP said Hereford was weaving back and forth in the westbound lane in his 1995 Nissan Sentra. He first struck Liu then hit Mason about 100 feet away and continued driving another 300 feet before he stopped, the CHP said.

An off-duty Vallejo officer and a Windsor motorcycle officer detained Hereford until the CHP arrived.

Liu was pronounced dead at the scene. Details of his memorial service were not available by press time.

Schuster said Liu's teammates will actively follow the prosecution of Hereford. For more information or to help, contact Laura Schuster at 575-7314 or schulaura65@yahoo.com.

E-mail Candice Shih at editor@mv-voice.com Bay City News contributed to this report.

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