Speeding, Cigarette Tossed Out Window Leads To Fatal Hwy 1 Crash: CHP

State Highway 1 near Castroville was closed in both directions this afternoon after a 24-year-old Prunedale man died in a head-on collision.

The two-vehicle collision was first reported at 12:12 p.m. on southbound Highway 1 just north of Molera Road in unincorporated Monterey County, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A silver Mazda was traveling in the northbound lane of the highway while a black Lexus SUV was traveling in the southbound lane, according to CHP spokesman Officer Oscar Loza.

The driver of the Lexus admitted to officers that she was speeding. As she threw a cigarette out of the vehicle's window, her vehicle then veered into the northbound lane and struck the Mazda, according to Loza.

The driver of the Mazda was pronounced dead at the scene, Loza said.

The Lexus SUV had at least four people inside. The driver and the occupants were all taken to the hospital.

Loza said he didn't know the extent of their injuries.

The CHP is continuing to investigate the collision to determine if drugs or alcohol were a factor.

The highway was expected to reopen by 4 p.m., Loza said.

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--Bay City News