Two Hollister residents were killed in a solo vehicle accident early Friday morning, and the driver who survived with major injuries was suspected of drunk driving, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The accident happened on Highway 101 south of Highway 129 and was reported at 1:31 a.m., according to the CHP.
A 23-year-old male passenger, Michael Solorio, and a 25-year-old male passenger, Justin Lopez, were killed in the wreck, according to the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office, which acts as county coroner. The 25-year-old driver, Anthony M. Mendoza, was flown to San Jose Regional Medical Center with major injuries and was suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
At about 1:31 a.m., Mendoza was southbound in a 2000 Volkswagen Jetta on Highway 101 approaching Highway 129 at a high rate of speed, according to the CHP.
“For an unknown reason, he allowed the VW to drive onto the west shoulder of southbound US-101. The VW overturned multiple times before coming to a rest on the large grass shoulder west of southbound US-101,” according to the accident report.
The two passengers, whose identities have not been confirmed yet with the coroner’s office, died at the scene.
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