AROMAS—A 75-year-old Aptos man died Sept. 24 in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 129, or Riverside Road, at Rogge Lane near Aromas.
Ashley Keehn of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as Dean Peppas.
Alyssa Gutierrez of the California Highway Patrol said Peppas was driving a 2008 Toyota Prius about 6:15pm on northbound Rogge Lane. As Peppas attempted a left turn onto westbound Highway 129, he pulled into the path of a Ford Excursion SUV driven by a 38-year-old Watsonville man with three juveniles aboard that was traveling eastbound on Hwy 129, Gutierrez said.
The Ford plowed into the driver’s side front end, caving in a large portion of the driver’s compartment. The impact shoved the Prius off the pavement on the north side of Hwy 129.
Peppas man was pronounced dead at the scene, Gutierrez said. Only minor injuries were reported inside the Ford.
The incident is still under investigation.
