Renaissance High Graduate Dies in Car Crash

A 19-year-old Renaissance High School graduate died in a head-on collision on Highway 156 outside of Hollister on Monday afternoon, authorities reported.

Alejandra Alcaraz graduated , a continuation high school in rural Watsonville, in 2011, according to Murry Schekman, Pajaro Valley Unified School District's assistant superintendent.

Alcaraz was eastbound on Highway 156 in San Benito County around 2:18 p.m. Monday when, for unknown reasons, her 2004 Oldsmobile Alero went off the right shoulder of the road, according to CHP officer A. Tritenbach. Alcaraz over-corrected to return to the pavement, veering across the westbound lane of traffic and onto the left shoulder of the road.

Alcaraz turend hard a second time to get back on the road and was hit by a 2008 GMC Acadia. The Acadia, which was traveling west on the two-lane highway, was driven by a 50-year-old Salinas woman, Tritenbach said.

Alcaraz, a Watsonville resident, died at the scene, Tritenbach said.

The other woman suffered minor injuries and was flown to San Jose Regional Medical Center for treatment, according to the CHP.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, Tritenbach said.

Alacaraz's death comes just 10 days after Cynthia Madrigal, a current Renaissance student, .

Cynthia, 16, was driving south on San Andreas Road just after 1 p.m. on April 13 when allowed her 2000 Volkswagen Beetle to cross into oncoming traffic, according to the CHP. Her car was struck on the passenger side by a Chevy pickup driven by a 67-year-old Watsonville man.

Cynthia, lived in Freedom and worked at Wendy's, died at the scene. That crash also remains under investigation.

Schekman said grief counselors would be at Renaissance High again this week for students and staff.

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