A 19-year-old Watsonville woman was pronounced dead Monday afternoon at the scene of an accident on Highway 129 in San Benito County, according to a press release from California Highway Patrol and confirmation from the coroner.
The vehicle in which fatality victim Rufina Villacensio-Martinez was a passenger, a 2003 Hyundai driven by Filemon Luna-Martinez, 27, of Oxnard, crossed double-yellow lines on SR-129, east of the Santa Cruz County line, into oncoming traffic and was hit by a 2006 Ford. The weather was rainy and wet, according to the CHP.
The San Benito County Sheriff’s Office, acting as coroner, confirmed the victim’s identity Tuesday.
The driver of the Ford, Jose Torres, 48, of Watsonville, was unable to stop in time and struck the passenger side of the vehicle head on causing fatal injuries to the front passenger, the CHP reported.
The accident reportedly occurred at 3:50 p.m. Emergency personnel pronounced the passenger dead at the scene by 4:10 p.m. Luna-Martinez suffered major injuries. At this time, it is unknown if alcohol or drugs were a factor in the collision.
Editor Kollin Kosmicki contributed to this report.
