A tragic car accident in California claimed the life of one teenager and left four others critically injured, with authorities suspecting alcohol as a contributing factor.
The incident occurred in Novato, approximately 45 minutes from San Francisco, when a Toyota Camry crashed head-on into a metal utility pole on San Marin Drive early Saturday morning, around 1 a.m. Multiple emergency calls alerted authorities to the scene.
The crash resulted in four teenagers, aged between 16 and 18, being rushed to the hospital with severe injuries. Sadly, one of the passengers succumbed to their injuries, according to the Novato Police Department.
Investigators revealed that the 17-year-old driver was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. The collision left the vehicle severely damaged, with its windshield shattered and airbags deployed.
Sources informed the Daily Mail that the deceased teenager was Niko Vargas Ortiz, who was reportedly traveling with his school friends during the crash.
In response to this tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support Ortiz’s family. The identities of the other teenagers have not been disclosed.
The car was traveling at around 102mph when it collided with the pole, and the group of teens all attended a Quinceañera celebration before the accident, the source added.
Just days before the tragedy, the schools attended by the teenagers held an ’emotional’ course that showed students the ‘lasting impact of impaired driving’.
Five California teenagers were involved in a terrifying car crash on Saturday around 1am in Novato. Four of them were severely injured and one of them died
A source close to those involved in the crash told the Daily Mail the teenager who lost his life in the crash was Niko Vargas Ortiz. A GoFundMe page has since been launched to help support his family
Though it remains unclear whether all of the victims attended the ‘Every 15 Minutes’ seminar, during it, emergency personnel showed students what happens when someone under the influence gets behind the wheel, the agency shared on Instagram.
The program was held on Thursday and Friday, as firefighters and paramedics acted as if they were at a real drunk driving scene to show teens the consequences.
‘This impactful program, years in the making, brought together first responders, school staff, chaplains, therapy dog teams, and community partners to deliver a meaningful message about responsibility, choices, and the lasting impact of impaired driving,’ the agency wrote in their post alongside videos and pictures of the exercises.
‘Remember: Every 15 Minutes Someone in America Dies Because Someone CHOOSES to Drink and Drive.’
A female crash victim suffered such intense injuries that ‘they don’t know if she will ever walk again,’ according to the source.
Maité Iturri, the superintendent of the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District, confirmed in a Facebook post that four of the teens, including the one who died, were students at Rancho Cotate and El Camino high school.
The fifth was a former Rancho Cotate student.
John Koo recalled hearing what he described as a ‘big pop’ around the time the car crashed near his home.
Just days before the tragedy, the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety held an ’emotional’ course that showed students the ‘lasting impact of impaired driving’
According to authorities, the driver, 17, ‘was determined to be under the influence of alcohol’ at the time of the collision.’ The dented power pole is seen after being struck by the vehicle
‘It was like a big pop, that you heard the crash, like a big firecracker went off. Our power went out for a few seconds,’ Koo told ABC7 News.
Koo added: ‘We heard donuts before, screeching,’ referring to when a driver intentionally spins a vehicle in a circle.
Sandy Evans, another local who heard about the fatal crash, said she prayed for those involved as soon as she heard about it.
‘Last night, I prayed – I’m a Buddhist. I pray everyone was alive. We lost one,’ she told the outlet.
Sandy Evans, another local who heard about the fatal crash, left flowers at the scene
She placed flowers at the scene of the crash, accompanied by her husband, Sean Evans.
‘It’s too bad. I feel for the families. We have 20-year-olds. We tell them, “Slow down and don’t drink and drive”,’ Sean said.
The Daily Mail contacted the Novato Police Department for comment.
