A 72-year-old man from Ben Lomond died Saturday afternoon when the van he was driving crashed into a tree on southbound State Route 17, south of Vine Hill Road, in Santa Cruz County.
California Highway Patrol said in a news release that the van he was driving, a 2025 Ford Transit, travelled off the roadway for reasons still under investigation. The man suffered major injuries and died in spite of life-saving efforts. He was the only occupant of the van and was wearing a seatbelt.
Authorities at California Highway Patrol are trying to determine the cause of the crash and said they do not know if alcohol or drugs were factors. Anyone with potentially helpful information is asked to call CHP dispatch at 831-796-2160…