In a release, the University of California, Davis confirmed that three of the four fatalities resulting from a sequence of accidents that occurred last week in San Joaquin County were UC Davis students.
The three students were identified as Minkyu Geon, who hailed from Hong Kong, Margarette Guinto Ventura, from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Codi Orland Mateo, from Pasco, Washington.
The accidents transpired early Friday morning on Highway 99 near French Camp Road. The sequence began when a black Honda Accord collided into the rear of a U-Haul truck, which then swerved into a big rig. Subsequently, the driver of the Honda drove away in the opposite direction and crashed head-on into a black Subaru Impreza that was occupied by the UC Davis students.
As a result of the collision, the Subaru veered and scraped a black GMC Denali pickup truck, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The driver of the Subaru was the only survivor and was transported to the hospital with severe injuries. The students and the Honda driver died at the accident scene. CHP stated that alcohol was a probable factor in the collision, and the identity of the Honda driver has yet to be disclosed.
Chancellor Gary May expressed his sorrow, stating, "We are absolutely devastated and struggling to come to terms with such immense loss." He further conveyed the UC Davis community's sympathies to the families, friends, and acquaintances of the students who lost their lives. The university has contacted the victims' families, who all resided in dormitories last year.
UC Davis stated that Geon, a junior, was pursuing an electrical engineering major, while Ventura, a sophomore, was pursuing a degree in biological sciences. Mateo, a senior, was pursuing a major in neurobiology, physiology, and behavior. Ventura was a member of the Girl Gains recreational weightlifting organization on campus, and Mateo was affiliated with the student-run Filipinx Association for Health Careers.
