SALINAS, Calif. - A dangerous and deadly weekend on the Central Coast. California Highway Patrol said three crashes on Sunday claimed the lives of five people in Monterey County. Four others had major injuries from the accidents.
The first crash occurred Sunday afternoon at 1:45 p.m. on Highway 183, north of Cooper Road.
CHP says in this crash, a 1999 GMC Yukon, driven by 41 year old Daniel Lopez of Watsonville, was traveling northbound on Highway 183 and was attempting to pass slower moving vehicles. After Lopez crossed into the southbound traffic lane to pass a vehicle ahead of him, he struck a southbound 2009 Chevy Cobalt, driven by 20 year old Jesus Duran of Delano, head-on.
Duran was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Yukon was taken to Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital with major injuries. CHP Officer Robert Lehman also said Monday, "It is not believed that drugs or alcohol played a part in this collision, which remains under investigation."
At approximately 8:39 p.m., a head-on traffic collision between two Toyota Pickups on Natividad Road, south of Old Stage Road, killed the two drivers. The accident sent three passengers to Bay Area hospitals with major injuries. This crash occurred when a 2004 Toyota Tacoma pickup, driven by 35 year old Jesse Ramirez of Salinas, that was traveling southbound on Natividad Road, attempted to pass slower moving southbound vehicles and subsequently struck a 1986 Toyota SR5 pickup, traveling northbound on Natividad Road.
The driver of the 1986 Toyota, 60 year old Marcelino Ramirez Espinosa and the 2004 Toyota's driver were pronounced deceased at the scene.
Espinosa's passengers, 9 year old Lupita Ramirez and 18 year old Juan Ramirez, were both transported via air ambulance to Bay Area hospitals with major injuries. The passenger in the 2004 Toyota, 32 year old Anselmo Lopez of Salinas, was initially transported to Natividad Medical Center, but subsequently flown to a Bay Area hospital with major injuries as well. It is unknown whether drugs or alcohol played a role in this collision which remains under investigation.
At 8:50 p.m., CHP Dispatch was advised of a collision on Espinosa Road involving a motorcycle. Preliminary investigation revealed that this collision occurred when a 2002 Harley Davidson, driven by 42 year old Kennie Fresquez of Salinas, attempted to pass several other vehicles by driving on the right shoulder. Fresquez subsequently lost control of the motorcycle on the gravel shoulder, slid into a ditch and along with his passenger, 44 year old Valerie Langley of Salinas, was ejected. Both Fresquez and Langley were killed.
It is unknown whether drugs or alcohol played a role in this collision, which remains under investigation as well.
