Suspect Arrested In Fatal South Bay Crash Involving Stolen Car

SAN JOSE, CA — A suspect was arrested in connection with a fatal South Bay crash early Sunday morning that involved a stolen vehicle, the San Jose Police Department said in a news release Monday.

Jose Martinez, 18, was arrested late Sunday after allegedly fleeing the scene after crashing a vehicle with four passengers into a light pole, police said.

A female juvenile passenger was killed and three other juvenile passengers – one female and two males – suffered major injuries in the crash according to police.

Martinez was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, driving a stolen vehicle and hit-and-run, police said.

Around 3 a.m. Sunday, police responded to the area of Story and King roads to investigate a solo vehicle crash and arrived to find a gray 2013 Honda Accord that had crashed into a tree and a light pole after speeding east on Story Road.

A records check on the registration revealed that the car was reported stolen out of Mountain View, police said.

One of the girls was pronounced dead at the scene. Her name has not yet been released by the Santa Clara County medical examiner's office.

One of the boys suffered life-threatening injuries. The other two passengers are expected to recover according to police.

Martinez fled the scene of the crash but was arrested after being identified as the suspected driver of the stolen vehicle, Sgt. Christian Camarillo said.

The investigation is ongoing and police will present the facts at the end of the probe to the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office to determine criminal charges, if any, police said.

— Bay City News and Patch Editor Gideon Rubin contributed to this report