2 Extricated From Car Following Fatal Watsonville Crash

WATSONVILLE, CA —A 19-year-old Watsonville man who died in a collision in unincorporated Santa Cruz County near Watsonville on Wednesday evening has been identified by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office as Javier Guzman Duran.

The 1998 Toyota Avalon that Duran was driving crossed over a double-yellow line and sideswiped a Volvo SUV on state Highway 152 near 2567 E. Lake Ave. just before 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to the California Highway Patrol. The Toyota then went up a dirt embankment and struck a utility pole. Duran and his passenger had to be extricated from the vehicle, according to Cal Fire.

He was pronounced dead and the passenger, a 20-year-old Watsonville woman, was transported to a hospital with major injuries. The driver of the Volvo, a 57-year-old Watsonville woman, was uninjured.

Investigators do not yet know if drugs or alcohol played a factor in the crash.

By Bay City News

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