Community Corner
Concord Man Killed on Highway 17 During Morning Commute
Wet weather likely was a factor, a California Highway Patrol officer said.
A 21-year-old Concord man died in the pre-dawn hours Monday when he lost control of his car on Highway 17 and crashed into a tree, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The deadly accident happened sometime before 6 a.m. Monday north of Santa Cruz. CHP got the call at 5:50 a.m. but the car was cold when they arrived, according to spokesman Bradley Sadek, leading them to believe it happened earlier.
The man's 1998 Honda Civic veered off southbound Highway 17 near the Pasatiempo exit, the CHP reported. One lane of the rain-slicked highway was shut down during Monday morning's commute while the California Highway Patrol investigated the crash.
The man was declared dead at the scene, the CHP reported. He was the only person in the vehicle.
The driver's name was not released pending notification of his relatives.
It's been raining in Santa Cruz since mid-day Sunday, the first measurable precipitation in months. The moisture also is washing oils off roads and creating slippery driving conditions.
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