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A longtime Livermore Valley vintner died at an area hospital from injuries sustained in a collision with another vehicle on East Avenue on Friday afternoon, according to authorities.
The Alameda County Coroner’s Bureau confirmed on Sunday that the victim killed in the crash was 59-year-old Livermore resident Mitchell Katz. The circumstances of the two-vehicle collision remain under investigation by the Livermore Police Department.
Katz was the owner and operator of Mitchell Katz Winery on South Vasco Road, dedicated to creating wines with “extraordinary flavor, richness and intensity,” according to its website.
Condolences and remembrances poured out on the Mitchell Katz Winery Facebook page when representatives announced an unscheduled closure this weekend without getting into specifics and telling patrons “thank you for your understanding.”
“So very sad to hear this news. I’ve known him for a long time but became better friends with him these last couple of years. One of the hardest workers I know and always spoke about his two sons with great pride. I will miss our long conversations, my friend. You will be missed. Rest easy!” local business owner and resident Jody Amos said in the Facebook comments.
“I can’t believe the news. My husband worked with Mitch 16 years ago, and we have been drinking MK wine ever since. Mitch was the most generous person. Every time we went to pick up our wine, and he was there, he was always telling us about his sons. He was so proud of them. Wow. What a tragic loss. We will keep Mitch’s family close to our hearts. We are so sorry,” Stephanie Rose Doan added among the scores of comments.
Livermore police first reported about the crash on Friday afternoon, alerting people to the roadway closure westbound during the investigation and cleanup. They then confirmed on Saturday afternoon that the seriously injured victim — later identified as Katz — died at a local hospital.
The situation unfolded at around 3:20 p.m. Friday on East Avenue at Mitra Street, between the North Mines Road and South Vasco Road intersections. Katz was seriously injured inside his white GMC SUV following a two-car collision, according to authorities.
“A preliminary investigation reveals the other driver in a black Subaru collided with the white GMC as the GMC was changing lanes on East Avenue,” Livermore police said. The driver of the Subaru sedan, identified only as a man in his 20s from Westley in Stanislaus County, was said to be cooperating with police in their investigation.
“Police are awaiting toxicology results and won’t be releasing any more information at this time as it is still early in the investigation,” officials said on Saturday afternoon.
Katz was transported from the scene to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, according to authorities.
Katz founded his namesake winery in 1998 to honor his grandfather who made hand-crafted wines, according to its website.
“Mitch ensures that only the finest, most intensely flavored grapes are used for Mitchell Katz’ single vineyard wines,” the winery website said of Katz’s approach. “His diligent winemaking approach begins in the vineyard where all grapes are hand-harvested. Through his careful selection of grapes, and use of barrels for both fermentation and aging, Mitch has developed wines that are both an expression of ideal vineyard conditions and thoughtful winemaking.”
Katz’s death was among four fatal crashes across the greater Tri-Valley in a 30-hour period between Friday afternoon and Saturday night.
The other deadly collisions occurred just before 9 p.m. Friday on Camino Tassajara in Danville, around 9:20 p.m. Friday on Pleasanton Sunol Road in the Sunol area and around 9:20 p.m. Saturday in far-eastern unincorporated Livermore.
