Three Watsonville women were killed early Friday morning in a
head-on car collision in Aromas on Highway 129.
Hollister – Three Watsonville women were killed early Friday morning in a head-on car collision in Aromas on Highway 129.
Authorities arrested the oncoming vehicle’s male driver, who suffered minor injuries in the collision, on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter.
Watsonville resident Jose Mejia, 24, was arrested on suspicion of three counts of vehicular manslaughter after the 1999 Ford Explorer he had been driving crossed the highway’s double yellow lines and struck a 1988 Toyota Corolla. The three women killed were passengers in the Corolla, and that driver of the car was seriously injured.
Authorities said more information would be released after the investigation’s completion.
“We have some ideas and statements but until we get it ironed out, we’re not going to release any information,” said California Highway Patrol Officer Reese McAllister of the Santa Cruz County area office.
Authorities also won’t release victims’ names until after the families are notified, McAllister said. All three of the female passengers were from Watsonville. They are ages 49, 51 and 59, according to CHP.
The 49-year-old woman was in the front seat and was wearing her seat belt. But the women in the back, who also died, were not, authorities said.
The driver of the Corolla, a 47-year-old man from Watsonville, was seriously injured and transported to a Watsonville area hospital. He was wearing his seatbelt during the time of the crash, according to the CHP.
The crash occurred at 5:28am Friday morning on Highway 129 west of Rogge Lane, according to CHP. Authorities believe the crash occurred after the Explorer, heading east, crossed over the double-yellow line and hit the Corolla, which was headed west.
There were no witnesses to the accident, but several people arrived afterward and phoned the CHP, McAllister said.
Two of the women were pronounced dead on the scene, and the third was transferred to the Watsonville Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Both the drivers were also transported to the Watsonville Hospital. Mejia was treated for minor injuries and was placed under arrest and taken to the Santa Cruz County Jail.
No drugs or alcohol are believed to be involved in the crash, McAllister said.
Alice Joy covers education and health for the Free Lance. She can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 336 or at aj**@fr***********.com.
