A fatal two-vehicle crash claimed the lives of two teenagers Sunday evening just outside Watsonville, the California Highway Patrol reported.
CHP officers said the collision occurred at approximately 8:45 p.m. at the intersection of E. Lake Avenue and Casserly Road, when an eastbound 2026 Toyota Camry collided with a westbound Infiniti sedan. The impact left the Camry with catastrophic damage, and the vehicle came to rest beneath a billboard along the dirt shoulder. Firefighters worked for nearly an hour to free occupants trapped inside the Infiniti.
The Camry's driver, identified as Carlos Angeles of Soquel, and his passenger, a 17-year-old girl, were both pronounced dead at the scene.
Two people inside the Infiniti sustained serious injuries. One was airlifted by CALSTAR from the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, and the other was taken by ambulance to a trauma center outside the county.
CHP arrested the Infiniti's driver, a 19-year-old man from Watsonville, following the crash. Investigators are now looking into whether alcohol or drugs contributed to the collision, and the case remains under investigation.