San Jose, CA – In the early hours of Sunday, September 20, 2026, a single-vehicle collision resulted in the death of Ja’Marion Grace, 19, of Vacaville, according to KRON, with additional reporting from CHP Fatal.
The California Highway Patrol reports that the accident took place around 2:06 AM on the Yerba Buena Road on-ramp to northbound Highway 101.
Authorities said Grace was a passenger in a silver Ford Fusion driven by a 19-year-old San Mateo man when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle for reasons unknown. The Ford left the roadway, went down an embankment, and overturned onto its roof.
Grace, one of the vehicle’s occupants, was ejected during the crash. The San Jose Fire Department responded to the scene and confirmed the fatality. Both lanes of the on-ramp were blocked, and the ramp was shut down during the response.
An evidence tow was requested for the vehicle, which was later transported to a tow yard. The Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office was notified, responded to the scene, and formally identified Grace following his death. The on-ramp was reopened at approximately 5:24 AM.
Grace, who played football at the College of San Mateo, was remembered by family and teammates as a joyful, dedicated young man. The College of San Mateo’s president confirmed that three of the college’s football players were in the vehicle: Grace, who died; a second student who remains hospitalized with serious injuries; and a third who has returned home and is recovering.
Grace’s family has established a GoFundMe to help raise money to cover funeral expenses.
San Jose Car Accidents and Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Claims
California law follows the principle of comparative negligence. This means that even if the driver is found at fault for losing control of the vehicle, Grace’s family may still pursue compensation against the driver, since a passenger’s right to recovery does not depend on identifying a separate at-fault party. Investigators with California law enforcement examine roadway conditions and the driver’s conduct to determine what caused the vehicle to leave the roadway.
Because two of the vehicle’s three occupants survived the crash with varying degrees of injury, the driver may face a separate claim from his other passenger, in addition to any liability tied to Grace’s death. Grace’s family may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim, while the injured passenger may have the right to pursue a personal injury claim, each providing compensation for the losses specific to that claim.
San Jose Wrongful Death Lawyer
If you or someone you love was harmed in an accident like the one described here, on the Yerba Buena Road on-ramp to Highway 101, contact a California wrongful death lawyer for any questions or to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case assessment.
