Man Dies After Medical Emergency, Crash Near Felton

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA – A 70-year-old Ben Lomond man suffering from a medical emergency drove off a road and crashed into a ditch north of Felton this morning, a California Highway Patrol spokeswoman said.

The man, who hasn't been identified, was driving a 2000 Ford F-150 that crashed off of southbound East Zayante Road near Quail Hollow Road shortly after 7:30 a.m., CHP Officer Trista Drake said.

It appears the driver suffered a medical issue before crashing a truck with lumber racks into a ditch, Drake said.

Responding officers found the man who was pronounced dead at the scene, she said.

CHP officials initially reported the man crashed into a tree, but further investigation showed that wasn't the case, according to Drake.

Preliminary reports also indicated the truck sustained minor damage, but the vehicle was intact after the crash, she said.

The Santa Cruz County coroner's office was called to the scene, according to Drake.

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--Bay City News/CHP image