Monterey County, CA – On the evening of Saturday, May 2, 2026, a suspected DUI head-on collision resulted in two deaths and left a third person in critical condition, according to KSBW.
The victims, both residents of Watsonville, have been identified as:
- Paulino Hilario De Los Santos, 33
- Alberto Martinez Garcia, 17
The California Highway Patrol reports that the accident took place around 10:18 PM on State Route 1 north of Springfield Road near Moss Landing.
Authorities said David Olaeta, 51, was driving a GMC pickup southbound on Highway 1 when, for reasons still under investigation, he crossed over the double yellow lines and sideswiped a northbound Ford pickup carrying four people from Watsonville. The GMC continued southbound in the northbound lane and struck a Honda sedan traveling behind the Ford head-on.
A 58-year-old woman in the Ford was transported to a hospital with possible injuries, while the other three Ford occupants reported no injuries. The three male occupants of the Honda, including the driver, were all transported to a hospital with major injuries.
De Los Santos and Martinez Garcia were subsequently pronounced dead. The third occupant of the Honda remained in critical condition at the time of reporting.
Olaeta displayed signs of alcohol intoxication at the scene and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. He was transported to a hospital for treatment of serious injuries before being booked into Monterey County Jail on charges including driving under the influence causing injury and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, with bail set at $600,000.
Both northbound and southbound lanes of Highway 1 were closed for several hours during the investigation.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the California Highway Patrol. The investigation remains ongoing.
Ongoing Investigations
Victims of traffic accidents and their families should be aware that authorities may fail to note or even misinterpret critical evidence at a crash site. One of the services that a Personal Injury Attorney can provide is to pursue follow-up investigations, which can reveal additional evidence to correct any errors made by previous investigators.
California DUI Law
Section 23153(a) of the California Vehicle Code (CVC) states that it is illegal for any driver to “Operate a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs and, as a result, cause bodily injury to someone else.”
Wrongful Death Claim
Even if a fatal accident doesn’t lead to criminal charges, families who lose a loved one can still file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance. This can provide support to help cover medical bills, funeral expenses, and the loss of support for dependents of the deceased.
Monterey Fatal Car Accident Lawyer
If you or someone you love was harmed in an accident like the one described here, contact a Monterey fatal car accident lawyer for any questions or to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case assessment.
