Two Watsonville residents were killed and several others were injured Saturday night, May 2, 2026, in a three‑vehicle collision on State Route 1 near Springfield Road in the Moss Landing area, according to the California Highway Patrol and multiple verified reports. The crash occurred at approximately 10:18 p.m. when emergency crews were dispatched to the scene.
Investigators reported that a GMC pickup traveling southbound crossed over the centerline and sideswiped a northbound Ford pickup before continuing into the northbound lane and colliding head‑on with a Honda sedan traveling behind the Ford. The violent impact left all three occupants of the Honda with major injuries.
One of the victims, 17‑year‑old Alberto Martinez Garcia of Watsonville, was an occupant in the Honda and later died at the hospital. A 33‑year‑old man, identified as Paulino Hilario De Los Santos, who was also in the Honda, was fatally injured. A third passenger from the Honda remained hospitalized in critical condition following the collision.
A 58‑year‑old woman riding in the Ford pickup was transported to a hospital with injuries, while the other three occupants of that vehicle were uninjured. The Ford had been traveling northbound when it was struck during the initial sideswipe before the GMC continued into the path of the Honda.
The 51‑year‑old GMC driver, identified as David Olaeta, sustained serious injuries and was arrested after officers noted signs of alcohol impairment. He was later booked into the Monterey County Jail on charges including DUI causing injury and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, with bail set at $600,000.
The California Highway Patrol continues to investigate the deadly collision, reviewing roadway evidence and witness statements to determine the full sequence of events. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the CHP Monterey office as the case remains active.
