A SANTA CRUZ MAN HAS BEEN DECLARED BRAIN DEAD AFTER BEING STRUCK BY A HIT AND RUN DRIVER ON TUESDAY.  36 YEAR OLD MICHAEL SCHAUPP WAS RIDING HIS MOTORCYCLE ON HIGHWAY 17 WHEN A WOMAN IN AN S-U-V PULLED IN FRONT OF HIM, AFTER THE COLLISION SHE BRIEFLY STOPPED BEFORE FLEEING AND ABANDONING THE VEHICLE ON THE BEAR CREEK ROAD OFF-RAMP.  AUTHORITIES BELIEVE THEY KNOW THE IDENTITY OF DRIVER BUT ARE NOT RELEASING HER NAME CITING THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION. MEANWHILE THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE HAS DECLARED THAT SCHAUPP HAS AN IRREVERSIBLE LOSS OF BRAIN FUNCTIONS.