By Khalida Sarwari
The Santa Cruz County coroner’s office has identified a woman who died in a crash on state Highway 129 near Watsonville on Friday as 22-year-old Courtney Manning.
The crash was reported at about 10:40 a.m. on Highway 129, also known as Riverside Drive, at the intersection with Carlton Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Manning was driving a red Dodge Neon east on the highway when, for an unknown reason, she crossed over double-yellow line and sideswiped a silver Hyundai Sonata, CHP Officer Sarah Jackson said.
She then lost control of the Dodge and collided with a Freightliner dump truck that was traveling west, Jackson said. The front of the truck hit the driver’s side of Manning’s car.
Manning was pronounced dead at the scene.
“It’s unclear whether she crossed over to pass or was inattentive and drifted,” Jackson said.
The driver of the Hyundai, a 30-year-old Soquel woman, was taken to Watsonville Community Hospital with severe injuries.
The driver of the dump truck, a 47-year-old Manteca man, was not injured.
Drugs and alcohol are not believed to have played a role in the crash.
All three drivers were wearing their seat belts.
Manning was from Ceres, but may have recently moved to Watsonville, Jackson said.
