Aptos Girl, 12, Died In 5-Car Crash on Highway 1

A 12-year-old Aptos girl was killed in a five-car collision on state Highway 1 in Santa Cruz on Saturday, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday, a 34-year-old man was driving a 2004 Ford E-350 van on southbound Highway 1 south of La Fonda Avenue, where he struck the back of a Toyota Prius, CHP officials said.

The initial collision caused a chain reaction in which the Toyota struck the rear of a 2015 Chrysler 200, which hit the back of a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado, which pushed into a Volvo V70, according to the CHP.

A 40-year-old Aptos woman driving the Toyota was airlifted to Natividad Medical Center for injuries and her rear passenger, a 12-year-old girl, died, CHP officials said.

A 32-year-old man driving the Chrysler and his passenger, a 36-year-old woman, suffered minor to moderate injuries but did not need to be hospitalized, according to the CHP.

Investigators do not suspect alcohol or drugs were a factor in the collision, CHP officials said.

• And from today in San Jose area: Suspected DUI Driver Possibly To Blame For Today’s Fatal Hwy 101 Crash

--Bay City News

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