Updated: Identity of Monte Sereno/Highway 9 Crash Victim Released

The Santa Clara County Coroner's Office has released the identity of a Mariposa man who died early Thursday morning during a tragic car accident on Highway 9 between Rose and Ridgecrest avenues in Monte Sereno.

Killed in the accident was Ryan Patrick Littleton, 32, the driver of a 2000 Chevrolet Camaro convertible going westbound on Highway 9 that hit a tree and caught on fire, according to police authorities.

The accident, reported at about 12:22 a.m., occurred when Littleton is said to have left the roadway onto the dirt shoulder of the center dividing section that separates the eastbound and westbound lanes of traffic.

After knocking over at least one small tree, the Camaro crashed into a large tree, and the force of the impact resulted in the engine compartment catching on fire, according to a press release issued by the

The and paramedics responded to the accident to extinguish the fire and provide lifesaving efforts; however, the driver was pronounced dead at the scene, the release stated.

Both directions of Highway 9 were closed until about 5 a.m. this morning while the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department's Accident Investigation Team conducted its investigation.

The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner's Office released the victim's identity after notification of next of kin. It's not known yet whether drugs or alcohol were a factor in the accident, the release said.

The accident was reported by a passer-by who didn't witness the accident. 

Police spokesman Sgt. Kerry Harris said since February of 2009, there's been eight traffic collisions on Highway 9 between Rose and Quito avenues. Of those, four resulted in injuries.  

"Traffic enforcement on Highway 9 has been a priority for the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department and will continue to be as we hope to abate tragic situations such as this one," Harris said.

Anyone who may have witnessed the accident is asked to call traffic officer Sam Wonnell at 408-354-8600.

Correction: This story has been revised. An earlier version stated incorrectly the number of fatalities on Highway 9 since February of 2009. There have been zero deaths since that time, but four injury-related accidents. Everybody makes mistakes ... even us! If there's something in this article that you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, give Local Editor Sheila Sanchez a ring at 408-391-8725 or shoot her an e-mail at sheila.sanchez@patch.com.