On a calm Saturday afternoon in San José, a neighborhood full of familiar faces was shaken when 74-year-old Ellen Orcutt lost her life in a devastating head-on collision at the intersection of Foxworthy and Jarvis avenues. The crash, which occurred at about 2:35 p.m., has left her loved ones mourning and local residents demanding change.
According to the preliminary report from the San Jose Police Department, a GMC Yukon was travelling eastbound on Foxworthy Avenue and attempted to pass a Subaru Forester on the right. That risky pass caused the Yukon to strike the Forester, veer into oncoming traffic and smash directly into the Honda CRV driven by Orcutt. The impact was catastrophic for both vehicles.
Orcutt was pronounced dead at the scene. The Yukon’s driver was rushed to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries and remains in critical condition. The Subaru driver emerged uninjured. Residents say it didn’t just stop there: the force of the crash triggered a large fire. One eyewitness, Israel Lomeli, said he walked outside to see an overturned car engulfed in flames and immediately called emergency services. “I was panicking… the cars were upside down,” he recalled.
Orcutt’s family revealed she lived just around the corner and had been running a quick errand—stopping by her bank to withdraw money for her grandchildren—when her life was cut short. Her brother, Marc Boyd, described her as “a wonderful person… very giving, kind and generous,” noting she dedicated more than 35 years to nonprofit work supporting families, homeless individuals and survivors of domestic abuse.
Meanwhile, the neighborhood is grappling with grief—and anger. Locals say speeding has long been an issue on Foxworthy Avenue, where the posted speed limit is 30 mph. Witnesses estimate the Yukon was travelling well over 60 mph before losing control. In the wake of the tragedy, residents have launched a petition urging the city to install speed bumps or additional stop signs. “People drive too fast down this street… it was only a matter of time,” one neighbor said.
The San José Police Department continues to investigate the crash, reviewing security-camera footage and witness statements to determine whether charges will be filed. As this fatal incident adds to the city’s rising number of traffic fatalities this year, authorities are urging drivers to slow down, especially in residential zones where children live and play.
Friends and family remember Ellen Orcutt not simply as a victim of a tragic accident, but as a compassionate and steadfast community member whose legacy of kindness will endure long beyond her passing. In a twist of fate, the same road that carried her home that afternoon also carried her final journey—a reminder of how fragile life can be, and how important it is to protect the spaces where our neighbors live, move and find safety.