Man killed by storm debris during high surf in Santa Cruz County identified

WATSONVILLE, Calif. - A Watsonville man who died after he was trapped by debris washed up by high surf last week along a Monterey Bay beach has been identified.

David Koons, 64, became trapped at Sunset State Beach near Watsonville, after a large wave washed debris ashore about 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 23, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.

Koons was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to sheriff's spokesperson Ashley Keehn.

The high surf was generated by recent storms that battered the coast last week and also led to the partial collapse of the the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf.