College of San Mateo mourns football player killed in San Jose Highway 101 crash

A Highway 101 crash in San Jose killed 19-year-old College of San Mateo football player Ja’Marion Grace and injured two other student athletes early Sunday, according to the California Highway Patrol and college officials.

CHP said a 2013 Ford Fusion was traveling north near Yerba Buena Road at about 2:06 a.m. September 20 when its driver lost control. Grace, a passenger from Fairfield, was ejected and died. The 19-year-old driver from San Mateo suffered major injuries and was taken to a hospital, NBC Bay Area reported. The college said a third student athlete was injured and was recovering at home, according to CBS Bay Area.

Grace was a freshman defensive back for the Bulldogs. In a September 24 follow-up, Patch reported that his teammates were remembering him as a friend whose energy extended beyond football. The crash happened Sunday; the tributes and follow-up reporting came later in the week.

Why this matters

The college community is grieving one student while two others recover. The college’s account clarifies that three student athletes were involved; early crash reports focused on Grace and the injured driver.

What the reporting does not establish

CHP’s investigation remained open in the cited reporting. Officials had not determined whether alcohol or drugs played a role, and the report did not establish why the driver lost control.