Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The man driving a truck on Middlefield Road who died Monday morning after he collided with a tree, has been identified.

The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner and Coroner’s Office on Tuesday identified the driver as Benjamin Sanchez, 51, of Sunnyvale. He was pronounced dead at the scene around 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 30, shortly after police first reported the solo vehicle crash east of the Rengstorff Avenue intersection.

Police say the man was driving in the westbound direction on Middlefield Road in a white pick-up truck when he crossed the median and eventually crashed into a tree along the sidewalk, according to police spokeswoman Katie Nelson.

Police officials do not know what caused the driver to careen into a tree and they are investigating the incident, Nelson.

Both eastbound lanes on Middlefield Road were closed to traffic during the investigation, and remained closed into the afternoon commute.

Anyone with information on the collision is asked to call Sgt. Bryan Albarillo at 650-903-6733.

  • 14389_original
    An assortment of steamed buns served at Kumino including pork belly, pork shoulder, smoked salmon and eggplant. Photo by Veronica Weber.
  • 14390_original
    Isaias Cancino pulls St. Louis style pork spare ribs out of the smoker at QBB as the restaurant prepares for dinner service on October 31, 2017. Photo by Veronica Weber.

Most Popular

With local birth rates ‘trending down,’ Mountain View Whisman sees declining enrollment projectionsWith local birth rates ‘trending down,’ Mountain View Whisman sees declining enrollment projectionsMay 7, 2026 1:37 pm
Man who shot Mountain View police officer convicted of attempted murderMan who shot Mountain View police officer convicted of attempted murderMay 6, 2026 3:59 pm
Obituaries: Local residents who died recentlyObituaries: Local residents who died recentlyMay 7, 2026 10:48 am

Kevin Forestieri is a previous editor of Mountain View Voice, working at the company from 2014 to 2025. Kevin has covered local and regional stories on housing, education and health care, including extensive...

Join the Conversation

No comments

  2. I didn’t witness the actual crash, but I walked by when they were pulling him out. For the amount of damage to the vehicle, he must have been speeding.

  3. around the corner:

    Assuming he was speeding is presumptuous. A medical event while driving causing one to push the accelerator pedal could result in the same outcome.
    My condolences to the man’s friends and family, a very unfortunate event.

  5. He was my friend for years. An angel in earth that God send to bring us happiness and love. He had a seizure, a seizure that took him to heaven. He was not speeding at all. My condolences to his wife, children, brothers, sisters and mom. Now, he is still our angel, but now with wings that is watching us from heaven. You’ll be missed Ben.

  6. Persons who have seizures are not permitted to drive, unless carefully followed by physicians. This person could have killed someone

  7. I think the rule is that, once a seizure has been medically diagnosed – IF it has been brought under medication/surgical control for 6 months with no relapse – the physician may clear the driver.

  8. This is a tragic story and my condolences go out to his family.

    This might sound cold but this is the best case scenario, if he didn’t hit the tree his truck would’ve gone into one or two homes and caused more fatalities. This stretch of sidewalk has many families walking to Monta Loma Elementary every morning and I don’t even want to think about that scenario.

Leave a comment