An 18-year-old Hollister resident was in critical condition and
another 18-year-old was seriously injured after a head-on collision
Sunday on a winding portion of Southside Road.
An 18-year-old Hollister resident was in critical condition and another 18-year-old was seriously injured after a head-on collision Sunday on a winding portion of Southside Road.
Darios Ramirez suffered internal injuries and was air-lifted to San Jose. It was unknown whether his injuries were life threatening, according to California Highway Patrol Officer David Singer. Although, he said, “It’s pretty serious.”
The other vehicle’s driver, Hollister resident Jorge Fernandez, was also air-lifted to San Jose. Fernandez suffered a fractured leg and injuries to his knees and he was in stable condition Sunday.
The collision occurred shortly after 11 a.m. on Southside Road about two miles from Union Road.
Fernandez is a senior at San Benito High School, and it was unknown as of press time whether Ramirez is a student or a graduate of a local high school.
Ramirez was driving a black Nissan 200 SX northbound – toward Union Road – at an unknown rate of speed. Investigators believe he was speeding, according to Singer.
Curving around a hillside bend, he lost control and swerved into oncoming traffic, where his vehicle struck Fernandez’s gray Honda Civic. There were no passengers in either vehicle.
“He couldn’t hold the lane around the corner,” Singer said.
The impact to each car’s front end caused both men to get caught – their legs were trapped underneath the crushed dash boards, according to Brice Muenzer with the county branch of the California Department of Forestry and Fire.
Rescuers with his department and the Hollister Fire Department worked for 40 minutes to remove both men from their cars using “jaws of life” cutting tools.
Fernandez’s car had an airbag, but Ramirez’s did not. Both men had been wearing seatbelts, according to Muenzer. Investigators did not suspect any alcohol consumption, Singer said.
Both men were incoherent as rescuers tended to them. Ramirez spoke only Spanish, which marred the lines of communication, Singer said.
Both men were taken by ambulance to Hazel Hawkins Hospital and then flown to San Jose. Traffic was diverted on Southside Road for about 90 minutes.
“It’s about the worst kind (of head-on) you can get,” Singer said.
