A 19-year-old college student was among three passengers killed in a devastating head-on crash in California on Sunday night.
Abigail Tinoco, a UCLA student, died alongside Sebastian Burgos, 18, and Noah Trevino, 18, in the collision on Abbott Street in Monterey County at about 9 p.m.
According to the California Highway Patrol, a black Nissan Altima was traveling south on Abbott Street while a white Honda CR-V was heading north.
The Honda CR-V entered the southbound lane for an unknown reason, triggering the fatal crash, officials said.
Six people were involved in the collision, with three occupants in each vehicle.
The three survivors were the 21-year-old driver of the Honda CR-V, the 20-year-old Nissan driver and a 20-year-old passenger in the Nissan.
Six ambulances and multiple California Highway Patrol vehicles responded to the scene, according to KSBW 8. All three survivors were taken to Natividad Medical Center with major injuries.
CHP officials said none of the drivers was under the influence of alcohol when the crash occurred. Investigators have not yet established whether speed contributed to the collision.
Abigail Tinoco, a 19-year-old UCLA student, was killed with two other passengers in a head-on crash in Monterey County, California, on Sunday night
Sebastian Burgos, 18, had recently begun his first quarter at UC Santa Cruz, where he was studying biology
Noah Trevino, 18, (right) was killed in the crash, while his brother Nathan Trevino, (left) suffered major injuries and continues to recover
Tinoco’s family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to pay for her memorial and help cover the unexpected expenses caused by her sudden death.
‘She graduated from Downey High School as salutatorian, ran track and cross country, and worked so hard to get into UCLA. She was in her second year there pursuing her dream of going into law,’ her sister wrote in the fundraiser.
Her sister remembered Tinoco as ‘determined’ and a ‘rock’ who made her family ‘laugh all the time.’
‘We want to give her the beautiful goodbye she deserves and allow our family the time to grieve this unimaginable loss. We love you so much, Abby. I hope you always knew that,’ her sister wrote.
The fundraiser has collected more than $21,000 toward its $40,000 goal.
The Burgos and Trevino families have also created GoFundMe campaigns seeking financial support.
‘To know him is to love him. He adores drawing and running. He has dreams to become a veterinarian. Sebastian is one of the most selfless people I know, and he will be missed by many,’ his mother, Fiona Burgos, wrote in a fundraiser statement.
Burgos had just begun his first quarter as a biology major at UC Santa Cruz. His mother asked supporters to help bring his remains home to Downey, California, following his death.
Tinoco’s sister remembered her as ‘determined’ and a ‘rock’ who brought laughter to the family
Burgos mother has asked fundraiser supporters to help bring him home to Downey, California after his passing
‘We want to make sure their parents, Rene and Drina, are able to be there for Nathan’s recovery and laying their precious Noah to rest without carrying the added weight of everything else that comes with an unexpected tragedy like this,’ wrote Diana Trevino, a close family member, in their fundraiser.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department, the CHP and the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office coroner for comments.