4 people killed in Templeton car crash identified
The California Highway Patrol has identified the four people who died after their car crashed into an oak tree in Templeton on Monday night.
A male driver, 22-year-old Kegin York, and three female passengers —Taylan Perez, 22; Shelby Biaggini, 23, and Karen Montescabrera, 21 — died in the vehicle collision on Neals Spring Road, according to a CHP news release Tuesday.
All four were in their early 20s and three were from the area.
York was from Creston, and Perez and Montescabrera were both from Paso Robles, according to the news release. Biaggini was from Bend, Oregon.
Emergency services responded to reports of the crash at around 9:30 p.m. Monday.
York, who was driving a 2007 Infinity, passed a slower vehicle on Neal Springs Road and accelerated at a high rate of speed, the CHP said.
He then braked, which caused the vehicle to rotate and spin out of control, down into a ditch and into a tree, according to the agency.
Cal Fire initially reported three fatalities and said one person had been ejected from the vehicle. Around 10:45 p.m. Monday, the agency confirmed a fourth fatality.
“Despite the fact that all occupants in the vehicle were restrained by their seat-belts, the impact with the tree resulted in fatal injuries to the driver and all three passengers,” the CHP news release said.
“One passenger, despite wearing a seat belt, was ejected. The impact killed the driver and the other two passengers,” the release said.
The CHP said although high rate of speed was “the main causative factor,” it is investigating other contributing factors in the crash.
Anyone who witnessed Monday’s collision is asked to call the CHP at 805-434-1822.
A GoFundMe has been set up for York’s family to pay for funeral and memorial services. As of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, 180 donors have raised more than $14,500 toward a $30,000 goal.
