Car crash involving 4 cars ends in injuries, death in Gilroy

GILROY, Calif. - An afternoon vehicle collision involving at least four cars in Gilroy claimed the life of one driver and severely injured another. 

Shortly before 2 p.m. Thursday, California Highway Patrol officers received a call of a multi-vehicle crash at Monterey Road and Live Oak Avenue.

Per the CHP, the crash scene unfolded when the Freightliner driver, identified as 45-year-old Daniel Arendt, was driving eastbound in the fast lane approaching the Live Oak Avenue intersection, intending to turn left onto northbound Monterey Road. 

At the same time, the Honda driver, who later died at a local hospital, was driving southbound on Monterey Road in the fast lane approaching the same intersection.

Officials did not name the driver of the Honda but said he was 35 years old.

During this time, the driver of a Jeep, 47-year-old Leonel Orozco, was driving northbound on Monterey Road in the left lane and stopped at a red light at the intersection, CHP said. 

The driver of the Ford, 37-year-old Ricky Reyna, was also in the same lane and intending to go the same direction as Orozco. 

The Honda driver failed to stop at the red light and continued through the intersection when he collided with Arendt, according to the CHP.

The impact of the crash caused the Honda driver to veer into the northbound lanes of Monterey Road where he struck head-on with Orozco. The force from the crash caused both the Honda driver and Orozco's cars to overturn and scatter debris that then struck Reyna's car.

CHP said Reyna and Arendt were not injured in the crash. Orozco was taken to a hospital with major injuries. His current condition wasn't immediately known.

Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be factors in the crash. 

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact CHP officer E. Valesquez at (408) 427-0700.