On Sunday, March 1, eight lives were dramatically changed in a horrific head-on crash on Freedom Blvd in Aptos. Four of the eight lost their lives while the other four were badly hurt with three of them suffering life-threatening injuries.
California Highway Patrol investigators have given the following scenario to this tragic accident. At about 8 p.m. a black Mercedes C320 with seven young people in a vehicle meant for five was traveling west on Freedom Blvd at over 60 mph when it crossed into the eastbound lane crashing head-on into a Ford 150 pickup truck. None of the seven in the Mercedes were wearing seat belts. Witnesses informed the CHP that the driver of the Mercedes, 22-yearold Arturo Avalos, was driving “erratically and recklessly” before the crash on the 7100 block of Freedom Boulevard near Valencia Road.
Witnesses also told the CHP they saw passengers hanging out of windows and the sunroof just before the crash. The three in the Mercedes’ front seat all perished at the scene. They were the driver Avalos, Teresita Brady, 19, who, according to CHP officer Brad Sadek, was sitting on the lap of 18-year-old Osbaldo Melgoza-Oritz. 16-year-old Vanessa Guzman of Watsonville who was sitting behind the driver also died in the crash, said sheriff’s Sgt. Kelly Kent.
Four people remain in hospital, two in critical condition, an 18-year-old woman from Marina and a 21-year-old man from Watsonville both at Natividad Medical Center in Salinas. Also listed in serious condition and recovering in hospital are a 17-year-old girl from Watsonville and a 56-year-old Aptos man who was the driver of the Ford truck both at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.
Aptos-La Selva firefighters had to use the Jaws of Life to remove those in the Mercedes. Evidence 
gathered at the scene shows that alcohol appears to have been a factor in the crash, according to the CHP. The 17-year-old Watsonville girl who was in the back seat of the Mercedes escaped with the fewest injuries and was conscious but Sadek said the girl has not been helpful about what was happening before the crash, where the group had been or was going or what might have caused the accident.
Three of the crash victims were connected to Renaissance High School. The 16-year-old girl killed in the wreck and the critically injured 17-yearold girl are juniors. Melgoza-Oritz, who was killed, is a former Renaissance student who last semester was enrolled at Watsonville-Aptos Adult School. According to Murry Schekman, assistant superintendent for secondary education at Pajaro Valley Unified School District, counselors were on the campus to offer support to students.
Renaissance is a continuation school with about 210 students. Students, family and friends showed up at a memorial established at the crash scene on Freedom Blvd to remember their dead and injured classmates.
The CHP asks anyone with information to call 831-662-0511.