The crash happened on Hillside Boulevard in Colma and the road remained closed all day. Friends and family of the victims were at the scene all day, still in disbelief about what happened. Police from Colma, Daly City, and Broodmoor have been working on the investigation since 7:30 a.m.
The crash split a green 1990's Mustang in two. Photos showed the front-end of the car on one side of Hillside Boulevard and the rear of the car sits about 20 feet away against a retaining wall on the west side of the roadway.
The accident happened at 7:30 in the morning. Colma police say there were four people in the car at the time of the crash. Three were ejected from the vehicle on impact and pronounced dead at the scene. The San Mateo Coroner's Office released the names as Rosa Maria Falla, 23, Jonathan Jade Moulton , 21, and Ruvin Abel Vazquez, 22.
According to police, the driver of the Mustang, 25-year-old Paul Michael Dias, ran away after the accident. Colma police put out an alert to be on the lookout for Dias at about 1 p.m. Police say Dias was driving the Mustang when he hit a 1990's Honda. The car was sent through a retaining wall and into Cypress Lawn Cemetery. Incredibly, the driver of the car, who was alone, was not seriously hurt.
Family and friends of the victims gathered at Hillside Boulevard just before noon. Most were in shock or sobbing as they tried to understand how the accident could have happened. The mother of one of the victims asked everyone present not to talk to reporters. Colma police would not release any information on how the collision took place.
Late Monday afternoon, Dias turned himself into the Daly City Police Department. His mother and father were at the station but would not comment on camera. Police will try to determine if drugs or alcohol were involved in the accident.
The home where Rosa Maria Falla lived is now being considered a crime scene. Daly City police cordoned off the area and stationed police officers at the scene.
Jesus Haro saw the driver tend to one of this friends before he walked through the broken cement wall and through the cemetery, leaving the scene of the accident. Haro said, "He was like, 'Baby, baby, baby.' I guess he was trying to get the girl's attention to see if she was alive. And then I don't know the girl didn't respond back so he just went under where that broken thing is and he just walked down and he didn't come back up."
Investigators say their car was speeding and there was evidence of alcohol inside the vehicle. But investigators are looking beyond the crash scene as well. They spent the day searching this Daly City home of one of the victim's relatives.
"There may be evidence related to this crime down the street at that location," said Colma Police Commander Kirk Stratton.
Investigators say it could take a while to piece together exactly what happened. Toxicology reports will likely take weeks.
