Editor’s note: This story was updated from an earlier version.
SANTA CRUZ—The woman who was killed in a solo-vehicle crash in the Seabright area Monday has been identified as Allison Endert, who has been involved in local government for decades.
Santa Cruz County Supervisor Ryan Coonerty said Endert worked as an analyst for his office for the past six years and has been a friend for 25 years.
“She worked for my father for six years prior to that and she also worked for John Laird’s office,” he said. “She was incredibly kind and caring, but a fierce advocate for helping people in local government.”
Santa Cruz Police Sgt. Wes Morey said the driver of a white Honda Accord was traveling north on Murray around 2:10pm when, for unknown reasons, he lost control at Mott Avenue and struck Endert and a 15-year-old girl. One witness said the victims were a mother and her daughter. Another witness said the pair lived close by.
The car also smashed into a light pole and flopped it onto the pavement.
The driver, Mark Mendoza Zembrano, 18, of Santa Cruz—who cooperated with police—was arrested at the scene. He was charged with gross vehicular manslaughter, two counts of driving under the influence causing bodily injury, two counts of criminal felony enhancement and two counts of multiple-victim enhancement, SCPD spokeswoman Joyce Blaschke said. Police found a marijuana bong in the car.
Both victims were taken to Dominican Hospital where Endert later died. The teen was listed in serious, but stable condition, Blaschke said.
Coonerty said Endert “got along with everyone.”
“She worked well with families experiencing homelessness or members in government trying to make the system a little more humane,” Coonerty said.
Endert also worked feverishly to fundraise for public schools, including Gault Elementary where her kids were students, Coonerty said.
“Allison worked really hard and put in overtime every week—but also found a way to go to her daughter’s sporting events and after school activities; she was committed to her kids and her community,” Coonerty said. “She was smart and committed and kind.”
At the crash scene, some neighbors said they rushed in to help.
“I heard the crash and ran out there,” said a neighbor who chose to only go by his first name, Pat. “I was a lifeguard so I did CPR on her for like 10 minutes. It didn’t look too good.”
Pat, who has lived in the area for about four years, said he felt a lot more could be done to help regulate traffic in the area such as flashing pedestrian signs, better striping and speed bumps.
“This area needs better markings, for starters,” he said.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call SCPD Traffic Investigations Unit Sgt. Morey at 420-5857.
