Daniel Landry dies in fatal Santa Cruz Mountains car crash

Daniel Landry dies in fatal Santa Cruz Mountains car crash

Fatal Santa Cruz Mountains car crash death of Daniel Landry

A devastating collision on Saturday night in the Santa Cruz Mountains has claimed the life of 78-year-old Daniel Landry, according to officials.

The crash occurred around 9:55 p.m. on Highway 17 near Sugarloaf Road, where California Highway Patrol officers responded to reports of a multi-vehicle accident impacting both directions of traffic.

Authorities say Landry, a Santa Cruz resident, was behind the wheel of a Honda Element when he veered into the opposite lane and collided head-on with a Tesla Model Y driven by a 19-year-old from Antioch.

Following the initial impact, a trailing Honda Accord was unable to avoid the wreck and crashed into the Tesla from behind, further complicating the situation.

Despite rapid intervention from nearby witnesses and emergency responders, Landry succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

Four additional individuals were seriously hurt in the crash and were transported to nearby medical facilities for treatment.

Investigators are still working to determine the precise circumstances that led to the accident, including whether impairment by alcohol or drugs played any role.