Four young adults died and two others were injured when a vehicle veered off a cliff on Angeles Crest Highway in California early Friday morning. The crash occurred just before 1:30 a.m. when a black Hyundai Veloster carrying six passengers veered off the roadway, rolled down an embankment, and struck a telephone pole.
Officials stated that five of the six occupants were ejected from the vehicle. Four passengers were pronounced dead at the scene by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office. The victims have been identified as Rebekah Cabral-Gonzalez, 21; Jason Potter, 19; Nevaeh Harper, 20; and Cole Torres.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) indicated that preliminary investigations suggest none of the occupants were wearing seat belts and that alcohol may have been a contributing factor to the collision.
Two survivors were transported to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Their current conditions are unknown.
Families of the deceased have created GoFundMe pages to assist with funeral expenses and other costs. Tributes describe Rebekah Cabral-Gonzalez as a "bright light" and a compassionate individual dedicated to behavioral health and special education. Jason Potter was remembered as a talented snowboarder with an infectious energy. Nevaeh Harper was characterized by her liveliness and the significant impact she had on those around her. Cole Torres was noted to have recently learned he was going to be an uncle.
As of Monday morning, fundraising efforts had garnered significant amounts, with GoFundMe pages for Rebekah and Nevaeh raising over $9,000, Jason's page collecting $13,400, and Cole's page receiving $18,700.