Quick Take
The 23-year-old man killed in a car crash on Freedom Boulevard last weekend has been identified as Luke Salem of Santa Cruz — a former Harbor High School student and Cabrillo College football player.
A 23-year-old man who was killed in a head-on collision with another car on Freedom Boulevard last weekend has been identified as Luke Salem of Santa Cruz.
According to the California Highway Patrol Santa Cruz, officers responded to the crash at about 7:35 a.m. on Saturday. Salem was driving a white 1966 Chrysler Newport westbound on Freedom Boulevard. Another driver, a 49-year-old man, was driving in a red 2017 Honda CR-V in the eastbound direction.
The two vehicles ended up in a head-on collision for reasons police have yet been able to identify. Salem was pronounced dead at the scene after lifesaving attempts by medical personnel. The 49-year-old man was taken to a local hospital, but sustained only minor injuries.
The reason for the crash remains under investigation, and Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Ashley Keehn told Lookout on Tuesday that a toxicology report to determine whether drugs or alcohol played a role will not be complete for a number of weeks.
Salem was a former Harbor High School student and was currently attending and playing football at Cabrillo College. The Cabrillo College football team posted to its social media, mourning the loss of Salem, adding that his “love, compassion and support for his teammates are already missed.”
“His smile and kind soul will never be forgotten,” the post reads. “If we all treated each other the way Luke treated us, there’s no doubt the world would be a better place.”
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