Crash claims life of Ben Lomond man

An early-morning accident on Highway 9 in Ben Lomond claimed a man’s life Wednesday morning.
According to a report by the California Highway Patrol, the accident occurred at approximately 6:40 a.m. on Highway 9, north of California Drive, in Ben Lomond.
Michael Kelly, a 31-year-old Ben Lomond resident, was traveling northbound in a silver 2002 Pontiac Grand Am, when he apparently lost control of his vehicle as he attempted to navigate a left-hand curve in the roadway, and traveled across the southbound lane of Highway 9, where he struck the front of a 1990 GMC Suburban with passenger side of the vehicle.
The driver of the Grand Am was pronounced dead at the scene due to injuries sustained in the crash.
The driver of the Suburban, a 38-year-old Boulder Creek resident, was not injured.
According to CHP Officer Bradley Sadek, the driver of the Grand Am — whose name has not yet been released — is believed to have been driving at an unsafe speed which, coupled with the rainy weather, likely caused the driver to lose control.
“It looks like speed aggravated by the wet weather,” Sadek said, adding that neither party is believed to have been driving while impaired.
Traffic on Highway 9 was limited to one lane for nearly three hours in the wake of the accident.