Accident on Highway 129 killed three Watsonville women; possible
charges pending
Aromas – The Santa Cruz County Coroner’s Office released names of three women killed after a head-on crash Friday morning in Aromas on Highway 129.
Watsonville residents Maria Isabel Dominguez, 49, Soledad Castillo, 50, and Maria Delgado, 59, died from the crash, according to the coroner’s office. Juan Ortiz-Estrada, a 47-year-old Watsonville man driving the car in which the women were passengers, was seriously injured and taken to Watsonville Hospital, according to the CHP.
Jose Concepcion Mejia, a 24-year-old Watsonville resident, was arrested on suspicion of three counts of vehicular manslaughter in connection with the crash after being treated for minor injuries Friday at the Watsonville Hospital, the CHP reported.
On Monday, a decision on possible charges against Mejia was pending a review of the CHP’s investigation, according to the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office. He is being held at the Santa Cruz County Jail.
Authorities suspect Mejia was eastbound in a 1999 Ford Explorer when he crossed Highway 129’s double yellow line at 5:28am Friday near Rogge Lane and struck an oncoming 1988 Toyota Corolla. Dominguez, Castillo and Delgado were passengers in the Corolla.
Castillo and Dominguez were pronounced dead at the scene, the CHP reported. Castillo was in the back seat of the car and was not wearing a seat belt, and Dominguez was in the front seat but was wearing a seat belt, according to the CHP. Delgado was in the back seat and was not wearing a seat belt, the CHP reported. She was pronounced dead later at the Watsonville Hospital.
Officer Grant Boles, a public information officer with the CHP’s Aptos area office, said the investigation into the crash continued Monday and he would not release additional details. Boles said CHP officers on Saturday shut down the stretch of Highway 129 on which the crash occurred to investigate further.
“Basically we have a specialized group of CHP officers who come in to assist in reconstructing the accident,” Boles said.
Authorities do not believe drugs or alcohol contributed to the crash, CHP officers reported. Conditions were dark and foggy at the time of the crash.
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or [email protected].
