Fresno-area teen driver killed in Highway 101 crash on the coast, CHP says
A teenage driver from Lemoore died and two people sustained major injuries after a car crash Sunday morning on the Central Coast, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Justin Rodrigues, 18, of Lemoore was driving south on Highway 101 down the Cuesta Grade northeast of San Luis Obispo when he lost control of his 2003 Nissan 350Z, according to a news release from the CHP.
Rodrigues crossed into the northbound lane of Highway 101 and was hit by a 2019 Ford Fusion driven by 54-year-old Sandra Gastelum from Santa Maria, the release said.
Gastelum suffered major injuries in the crash.
Rodrigues died as a result of his injuries from the crash, and his passenger, Kenneth Rocha, 19, suffered major injuries, the release said.
CHP Officer Miguel Alvarez said the crash is still under investigation, and it is unclear if drugs or alcohol use were a factor.
No arrests have been made at this time, according to the release.
This story was originally published April 4, 2022 at 11:27 AM.
