Authorities have released the identity of a Hollister woman killed in a traffic collision Sunday at the intersection of Highway 25 at San Felipe Road, while investigators suspect the surviving driver of driving under the influence.
The local resident who died in the incident was 25-year-old Ashley Marie Santiago, confirmed Sgt. Tom Keylon with the San Benito County Coroner’s Office.
The accident happened just after 5 p.m. Sunday at the busy intersection of Hollister where Highway 25 is known as Pinnacles National Park Highway.
According to the California Highway Patrol:
The head-on traffic collision between involved a black Mercedes-Benz car and a black Nissan car on the highway south of San Felipe Road.
Santiago was in the Nissan and was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver, a 28-year-old San Jose man named Ernesto Hernandez, sustained major injuries and was transported to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas.
Hernandez is believed to have been under the influence of alcohol and or drugs at the time of the collision and was subsequently arrested, according to the CHP.
Citizens having witnessed the collision or who may have any information regarding the collision are encouraged to call the Hollister-Gilroy Area CHP office and speak with Officer Youngs at 408-848-2324.
Calstar was called in to respond along with local responders.
Look back for more details on the incident.
