San Leandro motorcyclist charged after passenger killed in train collision
SAN LEANDRO — An unlicensed motorcyclist struck by an Amtrak train last month, leaving him critically injured and his passenger dead after other cyclists raised a railroad crossing arm for riders to pass through, has been charged with felony gross vehicular manslaughter, according to court records and authorities.
Jarred Logan, 30, of San Jose, who was hospitalized, was also charged with infractions of not having a valid license to operate a motorcycle and a rail crossing violation.
It was not immediately known Friday if he remains hospitalized. There is no record of him being in custody and a $75,000 warrant has been issued for his arrest, according to court records.
The fatal collision happened about 2 p.m. Feb. 23 near the intersection of Hesperian Boulevard and Springlake Drive.
Police have said Logan and his passenger, Julian Giovanna Rocca, 25, of Morgan Hill, were part of a group of roughly 100 motorcyclists riding that day. Authorities have not said if the group was a club or just riders who knew each other, or specified the nature of the relationship between Logan and Rocca.
As the group neared the intersection, the railroad crossing arms — displaying red flashing lights and audible bell warning devices — came down for an Amtrak train heading toward Oakland at about 79 mph, the documents say.
The documents say that Logan initially stopped his 2003 Honda motorcycle. But after other riders lifted the crossing gates he “made the decision to disregard the dangers of ignoring the warning devices” and began to cross the tracks “but did not make it fully across before the train crashed into him,” the documents say.
Rocca died at the scene.
Police said their investigation is continuing. They declined to say at this time if they are trying to identify those who lifted the crossing arms and if those people might face criminal charges.