The Contra Costa Coroner’s Office has identified the victim of Thursday’s fatal accident in Walnut Creek. Saniya Banga, 18, from Pittsburg, tragically lost her life when her car hit a power pole on Ygnacio Valley Road, between Civic Drive and North Broadway, at approximately 1:07 a.m. The collision caused her to be ejected from the vehicle.
Walnut Creek police confirmed that Banga was pronounced dead at the scene, while her passenger, despite sustaining severe injuries, is believed to have survived. The crash also led to a power outage in the area, but PG&E crews promptly restored electricity. Ygnacio Valley Road, a major thoroughfare in Walnut Creek, remained closed for several hours following the incident.
Pittsburg, where Banga resided, is an industrial suburb in California’s Contra Costa County, located in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, the Eastern Contra Costa County area, and the San Francisco Bay Area. It sits on the southern shore of Suisun Bay and had a population of 76,416 according to the 2020 U.S. Census. Distracted driving remains the leading cause of motor vehicle accidents in California and across the nation.
