South County Crash Kills 75-Year Old Aptos Man

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — An Aptos man died Friday after he apparently pulled in front of another car near the Santa Cruz-Monterey county line.

The 75-year-old Aptos man, who was not identified in a statement from the California Highway Patrol, was pronounced dead on scene. A 6- and 7-year-old girl who were passengers in the other car suffered minor injuries.

The crash occurred around 6:15 p.m., when Ernesto Gallegos, 38, of Watsonville was driving eastbound on State Route 129 near Rogge Lane with a 16-year-old boy and the two girls, CHP said.

The Aptos man was stopped on Rogge Lane, waiting to turn onto westbound Highway 129, when he pulled in front of Gallegos for an unknown reason, CHP said.

The cause remains under investigation and neither alcohol nor drugs appear to have played a role in the crash.