An 18-year-old East Palo Alto man died early Sunday morning after his vehicle struck a tree on northbound state Highway 85 in Mountain View, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The driver was identified Monday as Joel Godinez-Arila by the Santa Clara County medical examiner's office.
The Godinez-Arila appeared to have been traveling north on the highway when he lost control of his car and it veered off the roadway and crashed into a tree.
The car, a 2013 Toyota, then continued to crash into a sound wall before coming to rest on its wheels in the right shoulder of Highway 85, CHP officials said.
"The force of the impact to the tree -- it appears that speed was a factor," said CHP spokesman Officer Art Montiel.
Emergency personnel pronounced Godinez-Arila dead at the scene. CHP is investigating whether alcohol or drugs were involved in the crash, Montiel said.
Comments
Whisman Station
on May 11, 2015 at 8:38 pm
on May 11, 2015 at 8:38 pm
I am very sorry for the loss of this young man and grateful no one else was hurt or killed in this tragic accident. I hope somehow you know that hearts broke the day you left this earth. My thoughts go out to the family and friends of this young man. I know what it is like to loose a brother at this age.