Maria Elena Chavez Obituary – The California Highway Patrol is currently investigating a hit-and-run incident that led to the death of a woman on Wednesday morning. At approximately 6:17 a.m., a collision involving two vehicles occurred on Alisal Road north of Hartnell Road.
According to CHP, a 68-year-old man from Salinas was driving a Nissan Altima south on Alisal Road and was slowing down to make a left turn into an agricultural field. A 67-year-old woman from Salinas was in the passenger seat.
Simultaneously, a white 2001 GMC Yukon was also traveling south on Alisal Road and attempted to pass the Nissan by moving into the northbound lane. As the Nissan initiated the left turn, the GMC collided with the left rear of the vehicle despite the efforts of the GMC driver to slow down, as reported by CHP. Subsequently, the Nissan veered into a ditch on the east side of the road, while the GMC came to a stop facing the northbound lane in the southbound lane.
The driver of the Nissan sustained major head injuries and was transported to Natividad Medical Center. Unfortunately, the passenger, identified as Maria Elena Chavez de Chavez by the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the GMC fled the scene before the arrival of CHP and remains unidentified at this time. At present, it is unclear whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the collision.
