(A 26-year-old Watsonville man died sometime late Saturday or early Sunday when his Chevy Impala veered off the pavement, hit a guy wire, utility pole and tree on this curving section road in front of 222 Amesti Road. Photo by Tarmo Hannula/Pajaronian)
WATSONVILLE — Sometime between Saturday night and early Sunday morning, a Watsonville man died in a solo-vehicle crash on the 200 block of Amesti Road.
California Highway Patrol officer Sam Courtney said passersby discovered the 2000 Chevy Impala crumpled down a wooded hillside Sunday morning in front of 222 Amesti Road. As emergency officials pried their way into the car they discovered a deceased 26-year-old man in the car.
Courtney said that for unknown reasons the car shot off the right shoulder of the road while traveling south on Amesti Road. As the car left the roadway it struck a guy wire and a utility pole before smashing into a large oak tree. The Chevy then careened down a hillside through dense brush before coming to a rest about 20 feet below the roadway about 50 feet south of Bencich Lane, Courtney said. At the time, no one heard or saw the crash.
Amesti Road was closed in the area for several hours.
The incident is still under investigation. Courtney said it has not been determined if drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash.
