By Linda Taaffe

Los Altos emergency responders investigate the scene after an SUV struck and killed pedestrian Henry Kolm.

Walking downtown from his house near Los Altos High School wasn’t unusual for resident Henry Kolm. “Hank,” as friends called him, preferred walking and biking to just about anything. At 74, he had earned a reputation among local bicycling and hiking groups as a strong athlete.

“He enjoyed biking very much,” said longtime friend Don Levy, a member of the Sierra Club with Kolm.

Kolm was struck down and killed by a silver and black sport utility vehicle while crossing San Antonio Road during a routine jaunt to town Saturday morning.

Los Altos police were still investigating the accident Monday but said it appeared as if the driver just didn’t see Kolm, who allegedly was crossing San Antonio at the Hawthorne Road intersection near Bank of America at around 11:30 a.m.

The Ford SUV hit Kolm with enough force to catapult him down San Antonio almost half the length of the bank’s parking lot. Witnesses ran to administer CPR and redirect traffic until paramedics arrived. Kolm died at the scene of the crash.

Police did not arrest the 20-year-old driver, who was also a Los Altos resident. Sgt. John Hughmanick said police expect to complete the investigation by next week.

The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner had not obtained enough information to positively identify Kolm Monday morning, according to a spokeswoman. An autopsy was scheduled later that day.

Traffic advocates say the accident proved their worse fears about the four-lane road, known for its 35 mph-plus speeds and heavy traffic volumes, without the aid of a signal.

“Cars just drive too fast. Everyone is in a hurry,” one onlooker, who wished not to be identified, said Saturday as police blocked the southbound lanes of San Antonio from Hillview Road to Hawthorne.

“It’s difficult getting across (San Antonio),” said Bill Crook, a member of the traffic commission. There are no signals for pedestrians along San Antonio between Cuesta Road and Edith Avenue.

A traffic subcommittee had been working with the city to test pedestrian warning devices near schools, Crook said. The solar-powered lights flash when a pedestrian is crossing the street. Foothill College uses a similar device.

“The (solar lights) are warning devices to get drivers’ attention, to let them know, ‘Something’s happening. Look out.’”

Until Saturday, Traffic Engineer Tom Ho said there had been no concerns about pedestrian safety along that particular stretch of San Antonio of which he was aware. He said the area wasn’t considered problematic or a high pedestrian area. About 30,000 cars use the street a day, according to city officials.

The areas near Almond, Edith and Portola avenues, which have a high pedestrian count, have signals, he said.

Ho said he was reviewing the area and plans to make a recommendation to the city. He said a pedestrian signal, a warning device or a more pronounced crosswalk could be improvement options.

City reports show that Los Altos ranks 25th in general traffic safety among 98 cities of similar size.