Julio Gallo, Wife Hurt in Crash in Which Woman Died

Winery owner Julio Gallo’s wife is under investigation in the accidental death of a young mother who was killed when the Gallos’ car allegedly veered into oncoming traffic on a treacherous highway south of here, a California Highway Patrol official said.

Julio Gallo, 79, co-founder of the $1-billion-a-year E & J Gallo Winery, and his wife, Aileen, 76, were reported in stable condition at San Jose Medical Center on Wednesday. They were expected to be discharged today or Friday, hospital spokeswoman Susan Burger said.

They were injured Tuesday when, as Mrs. Gallo drove, their 1989 Lincoln apparently crossed over the double yellow lines on Highway 152 and struck a Honda Civic driven by Sharon Kauk, CHP Sgt. Harvey Heaton said.

Kauk, 27, of San Jose, died of head injuries at the scene. Her husband, Timothy, 27, and 3-month-old son, Matthew, were taken by helicopter to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose. Matthew was in serious condition and Timothy was stable Wednesday, spokeswoman Anne Moses said.

Heaton said Mrs. Gallo was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs and was not speeding when the accident occurred. But he added that she could be charged with vehicular manslaughter because she allegedly crossed the yellow lines into westbound traffic.

“With the information that I know--the crossing over the double yellow lines--in all likelihood we’ll recommend to the (district attorney) to file charges,” Heaton said.

Santa Clara County Assistant Dist. Atty. Thomas Fahrenholz said Wednesday that until he sees the CHP report, he cannot judge whether charges are warranted.

Heaton said officers will need at least a week to complete their report.

Gallo Winery spokesman Dan Solomon insisted that Mrs. Gallo was not at fault in the accident, and said Heaton’s statement that she could face charges “must be in error.”

“We understand that the other car came into Mrs. Gallo’s lane,” Solomon said. He would not say where he got the information. “I can’t give you a source. I checked with a knowledgeable internal source,” he said.

Heaton said the accident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday in clear, dry weather. The Gallos were traveling east toward Modesto, where they live.

Highway 152, the Pacheco Pass route between U.S. 101 and Interstate 5, is a perilous road on which many accidents occur. The stretch where Tuesday’s accident occurred is straight, Heaton said.

Heaton, a field supervisor in the CHP office in Gilroy, said Mrs. Gallo “did not recall how the accident occurred. Witnesses just said she drove to the left of the double yellows for no apparent reason.”

Julio Gallo is president of the E & J Gallo Winery of Modesto. His brother, Ernest, is chairman. The brothers founded the winery in 1933, and now sell more than a fourth of the wine consumed in the United States.