A Friday night crash in Yorba Linda left a 16-year-old driver dead and a 15-year-old passenger fighting for her life, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies responded at approximately 8:01 p.m. on Nov. 6 to the area of Yorba Linda Boulevard and Ohio Street after reports of a traffic collision involving two vehicles. When deputies arrived, they found one vehicle had crashed into a tree while the second vehicle sustained only minor damage.

Investigators identified the deceased driver as Matthew Andres Santome, 16, of Placentia. Authorities said Santome was transported to a hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. His 15-year-old female passenger remains in critical condition.

The driver of the second vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. Sheriff’s officials said neither drugs nor alcohol are believed to have played a role in the crash.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Major Accident Investigation Team is continuing to investigate exactly what happened and has not yet announced which driver, if either, may have contributed to causing the collision.

Could the Surviving Driver Face Criminal Charges?

At this stage, there is no indication that the surviving driver will face criminal charges.

In California, a driver is not automatically criminally liable simply because another motorist dies in a collision. Prosecutors generally must show that the surviving driver committed a criminal act or acted with criminal negligence.

Potential charges could emerge only if investigators uncover evidence such as:

• Excessive speeding.
• Reckless driving.
• Illegal street racing.
• Distracted driving involving a cellphone.
• Running a red light or stop sign.
• Unsafe turning or lane changes.
• Driving without a valid license.
• Mechanical defects knowingly ignored.

Because investigators specifically stated that drugs and alcohol do not appear to be factors, some of the more common felony vehicular homicide scenarios appear unlikely.

If detectives ultimately conclude the surviving driver obeyed traffic laws and simply became involved in an unavoidable collision, criminal charges would be unlikely.

Could the Surviving Driver Face Civil Liability?

Civil liability is a separate matter from criminal liability.

Even when no criminal charges are filed, lawsuits often follow fatal traffic collisions.

Several possible claims could arise:

• Wrongful death claims on behalf of the deceased teenager’s family.
• Personal injury claims resulting from the critically injured passenger.
• Property damage claims.
• Negligence allegations against one or more drivers.

The burden of proof in civil court is significantly lower than in criminal court. As a result, a driver can avoid criminal prosecution while still facing substantial civil exposure.

If investigators determine the surviving driver caused the crash through careless driving, the driver’s insurance company could face claims involving:

• Funeral expenses.
• Medical bills.
• Loss of companionship damages.
• Pain and suffering.
• Future medical treatment for the injured passenger.

Depending on policy limits and injury severity, damages in a fatal collision involving a deceased teenager and a critically injured passenger can quickly reach hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.

Impact on Auto Insurance

Insurance consequences following a fatal crash can be severe.

For the surviving driver:

• If found at fault, premiums could increase dramatically.
• The insurer could classify the driver as a high-risk motorist.
• Future coverage could become substantially more expensive.
• Some insurers may decline renewal altogether after a major at-fault fatal collision.
• Any settlement exceeding policy limits could potentially expose the driver to personal liability.

Even if the surviving driver is ultimately found not at fault, the claim itself will likely remain part of the driver’s insurance history.

For the deceased teen driver’s family:

• If investigators determine the 16-year-old caused the collision, the family policy may face claims from the other driver.
• Future rates for remaining family vehicles could be affected.
• The insurer may ultimately pay property damage or bodily injury claims arising from the collision.

The extent of the insurance impact will depend heavily on the final findings of the Major Accident Investigation Team.

Fatal Teen Crashes Remain a Serious Orange County Problem

Teen drivers remain statistically overrepresented in serious traffic collisions.

According to statewide traffic safety research, inexperience, nighttime driving, speed, passenger distractions and poor hazard recognition continue to be major contributors to crashes involving young drivers.

Fatal collisions involving teenage motorists occur every year throughout Orange County. While teen drivers represent a relatively small percentage of licensed motorists, they account for a disproportionately high percentage of injury-producing traffic collisions.

Risk factors commonly found in serious teen crashes include:

• Driving with teenage passengers.
• Nighttime driving.
• Excessive speed.
• Driver distraction.
• Failure to yield.
• Inexperience responding to emergencies.

Several of those risk factors are often present even when alcohol or drugs are not involved.

Orange County Cities Frequently Reporting Teen and Injury Collision Investigations

Based on population, traffic volume and recurring major traffic investigations, the Orange County cities that frequently report the highest numbers of serious and fatal collisions include:

• Anaheim
• Santa Ana
• Irvine
• Huntington Beach
• Fullerton

These cities contain some of the county’s busiest arterial roadways, commercial corridors and high-volume intersections, generating significant numbers of injury and fatal traffic investigations each year.

What Parents Should Learn From This Tragedy

The loss of a 16-year-old driver and the critical injuries suffered by a 15-year-old passenger serve as a painful reminder of the risks facing young motorists.

Traffic safety experts recommend parents maintain active involvement throughout a teen’s first years behind the wheel.

Parents should:

• Review driving habits regularly.
• Set clear limits regarding passengers.
• Restrict late-night driving.
• Prohibit cellphone use while driving.
• Require seatbelt use at all times.
• Drive with teens periodically even after licensing.
• Discuss local crash incidents and decision-making on the road.

Many families also use technology to monitor young drivers.

Popular monitoring tools include:

• Life360, which provides location tracking, speeding alerts and crash detection.
• Bouncie, a vehicle monitoring device that plugs into the OBD-II port and tracks speed, acceleration and driving behavior.
• Verizon Hum, which offers vehicle diagnostics, emergency assistance and driving reports.
• OnStar Guardian and connected vehicle safety services available on some newer vehicles.
• Tesla parental speed-limit controls and driver monitoring features for Tesla owners.
• Ford MyKey, which can limit speed and audio volume on many Ford vehicles.

Parents who combine technology with regular coaching and clear expectations generally have greater visibility into risky driving behaviors before those behaviors lead to tragedy.

Questions Remain as Investigation Continues

For now, many of the most important questions remain unanswered.

Investigators must determine exactly how the collision unfolded, whether either driver committed a traffic violation, why one vehicle ultimately struck a tree, and whether any mechanical, roadway or visibility factors contributed to the crash.

The answers will determine not only whether any legal consequences follow, but also who may ultimately bear financial responsibility for a crash that claimed the life of a 16-year-old Placentia teenager and left another young person critically injured.