SRJC student Eric Wiggins was killed after crashing his motorcycle into the back of a van stopped in traffic on Monday, Nov. 15. Wiggins, 19, from Windsor, was a 2009 Windsor High graduate.

Wiggins was traveling at about 60 mph in the carpool lane when he switched lanes and hit the back of the van. He had been an SRJC student since spring.

“Wiggins’ street bike hit the left rear side of the van, and he hit the vehicle head first. It didn’t appear he had slowed prior to impact,” CHP Officer Jon Sloat told the Press Democrat.

At the time of the crash, George Wiltshire was driving south in the van when he came upon stopped traffic near Hopper Avenue in northern Santa Rosa. CHP officers said some drivers stopped to help. Officers are hoping to talk to others who witnessed the accident. They’re asked to contact Officer Mike Phennicie at 588-1400.

Cary Escovedo, Wiggins longtime friend describes him as big-hearted, fun and intelligent. “He was really curious, and he was playful,” Escovedo said.

“It breaks my heart,” said fellow SRJC student and Wiggins’ friend Haley Sansom.

Monday evening, Wiggins wrote on his Facebook page: “Suited up and rode the ol’ motorcycle out to battlefield Skagg’s for the first time in a long while. The opponents were an idiot in a Mitsubishi Gallant, a z1000, and the final boss was an Aprilia Mille. I was a bit rusty but came out victorious and unscathed.”

Besides motorcycles Wiggins also took an interest in snowboarding, running and swimming. He was a huge Giants fan.

Andrea Valencia graduated from Windsor High with him, “He was the kind of person everyone found very easy to get along with. I would always see him walk though Shuhaw Hall with his helmet in hand, while at the same time he had a goofy smile on his face,” said Valencia.

He is survived by his two parents: William Wiggins, with whom he lived, Diana Bomers, and girlfriend Alyssa Soares. His parents could not be reached for comment.