Third teen dies in Highway 1 crash near Sea Ranch

SONOMA COUNTY, Calif. -- A third teen has died in a car crash early Sunday morning on state Highway 1 in the area of Sea Ranch in Sonoma County, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Jason Alanis Marquez, 17, of Pacific Woods, died at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, hospital spokeswoman Katy Hillenmeyer said. He died at about 5 p.m., according to the Sonoma County coroner's office.

Marquez was sitting in the back seat of a 1996 Acura Integra that crashed at about 4 a.m. into a tree on the west side of Highway 1 north of Annapolis Road, California Highway Patrol Officer Marcus Hawkins said.

He was unconscious and was transported in critical condition to the hospital by a medical helicopter.

The Acura driver, 18-year-old Jhovani Gonzalez-Marquez, 18, and the front seat passenger, Aron Gonzalez-Marquez, 14, both of Gualala in Mendocino County, died at the scene of the crash.

Hawkins said the northbound Acura was driving too fast through a right hand curve in the road and veered over the double yellow lines.

The car then spun counter-clockwise off the west side of the highway. The side of the vehicle struck a tree and a low branch and the slightly rolling movement of the Acura crushed the interior of the vehicle, Hawkins said.