[03-30-2022] Santa Cruz County, CA – Football Star Killed in Fatal Crash on Granite Creek Road

A teen driver crashed into a tree on Granite Creek Road, killing an 18-year-old Scotts Valley High School football player Carlton K. on Wednesday, March 30, 2022.

The fatal crash occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Granite Creek Road near Branciforte Drive.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Keegan was a passenger in his friend’s Subaru when the driver lost control on Granite Creek Road.

Keegan had recently participated in a Central Coast high school football all-star game.

Owen Z., 18, of Scotts Valley, was identified as the driver by the CHP.

Zeip allowed his vehicle to veer off the road and down a dirt embankment for an unknown reason.

CHP officer Alyssa Gutierrez stated that the Subaru collided with a tree. Zeip was only slightly hurt.

Keegan was taken to Dominican Hospital in an ambulance, where he was pronounced dead.

The CHP is looking into whether speed played a role in the accident. There were no arrests made.

As of Wednesday, a GoFundMe page set up to support Keegan’s family and funeral expenses had raised more than $93,000.

Fatal Single-Vehicle Crash Statistics

Even though single-vehicle collisions are among the most lethal on California’s roads, many motorists aren’t aware of this fact.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), sixty-two percent of all fatal car accidents in California involve only one vehicle. Drivers in California, where single-vehicle accidents are common, need to be aware of the various risk factors.

A number of factors can cause an accident involving only one vehicle. It is common for a single-car accident to occur if the driver is speeding or making sharp turns on a wet or slippery road and loses control. It is possible to find debris on the road, like a large branch or an object that fell from the back of a truck.

The comprehensive coverage plan of your insurance policy will likely limit your recovery in the event of a single-car accident. This is caused by something other than your or another driver’s negligence, such as a deer jumping in front of your vehicle.

Santa Cruz County Car Accident Lawyer

Because of their injuries, many people involved in car accidents are unable to return to work or school. When someone dies as a result of the negligence of another driver, that person is still held accountable for their actions. The surviving family members of the victim can file wrongful death lawsuits against the driver who was negligent and, as a result, caused the victim’s death (or legal heirs).

For them, the act of reliving their sorrows and grieving is a difficult one. In depositions and trials, victims are required to give testimony about their losses to strangers. Dealing with the stress of a lengthy legal battle can have a negative impact on one’s mental health.

It is critical to hold negligent drivers accountable if they cause an accident. Accountability is critical in cases where negligence results in an excessive death toll. For grieving families, wrongful death lawsuits can be emotionally challenging but can also provide a sense of closure. This is a win-win situation for everyone on California’s roads.

Our Santa Cruz County car accident lawyers at Arash Law have decades of combined experience and have recovered more than $750 million for our clients throughout the cities of California. Call us at (888) 488-1391 for a free consultation with one of our attorneys.