Three young men killed in crash on Skyline Boulevard

SAN MATEO COUNTY >> Three young men were killed on Halloween night when their Hyundai went off Highway 35 and collided with a tree just south of Bear Gulch Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The men were identified by the San Mateo County Coroner’s Office as Matthew Edward Eric Cruz, 18, of Redwood City; Andrew Rogelio Gonzalez, 18, of Menlo Park; and Ricardo Seneca Torres, 19, of Redwood City.

At about 7:50 a.m. Wednesday, the CHP received a call from the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office asking for CHP officers to respond to a traffic collision, which appeared to have occurred sometime overnight.

A 2010 Hyundai — which was occupied by Cruz, Gonzalez and Torres — was traveling south on Skyline Boulevard at an undetermined speed, according to the CHP. For unknown reasons, the Hyundai left the west side of the roadway, collided with a tree and came to rest on its wheels about 50 feet down the embankment.

Torres was identified as the driver. All of the occupants were wearing their seatbelts, said CHP Officer Art Montiel.

The collision closed Skyline Boulevard in both directions from Highway 92 to just north of Highway 84.

It is not known if drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash, which remains under investigation.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information is asked to contact CHP Officer Brian Wester at 650369-6261.