Two remain hospitalized after crash that killed SSU student

<p>A Santa Rosa Junior College student who suffered a broken neck in a car crash this weekend that killed a friend is considered one of the most talented soccer players in the region.</p><p>The CHP Monday said driver fatigue may have caused the Highway 101 crash early Saturday that killed Sonoma State University student Maribel Raya Medina, 19.</p><p>Arnaldo Salazar, 20, remained hospitalized Monday in serious condition at Memorial Hospital. In addition to the neck injury, Salazar has two broken arms, according to the CHP.</p><p>“He's probably one of the most gifted players in this area, if not the most gifted,” said longtime Santa Rosa Junior College soccer coach Marty Kinahan.</p><p>Kinahan said the junior college sophomore was expected to land a soccer scholarship from a NCAA Division One college.</p><p>“One of the big boys, Stanford, Cal. He would have gotten a scholarship,” he said.</p><p>Also still hospitalized Monday was Alejandra Meza, 19. The Sonoma State University sophomore and Rohnert Park resident suffered a concussion, lacerated liver and shoulder fracture. She remained in good condition Monday at the hospital.</p><p>Another Santa Rosa Junior College student, Alex Cano, 19, of Santa Rosa was injured in the crash. He was treated and released from the hospital Saturday.</p><p>The four were travelling in Meza's 2010 Mazda M3 sedan at about 1:40 a.m. Saturday when the car left the highway and smashed into a guard rail and then a redwood tree. </p><p>Meza was driving south near Todd Road when she may have fallen asleep and left the highway.</p><p>Medina, who was seated behind Meza, died in the crash.</p><p>She was in her second year at the four-year college, according to university records. Her hometown is Olivehurst.</p><p>Kinahan said Salazar didn't play local high school soccer and apparently came to Sonoma County in the last few years. But when he arrived, he played for the county's premier football club team, Sonoma County Sol.</p><p>In 2008, as a freshman, he played soccer for the SRJC Bearcubs.</p><p>Salazar often played forward or as an attacking center mid. “He was a brilliant player. He was kind of a “wow” factor,” said Kinahan.</p><p>But the young man had to take this fall off from the junior college team because of a deep hip flexor injury.</p><p>“He was going to concentrate on rehabilitating his injury to get to 100 percent health,” the coach said.</p><p>“We were waiting to get him back this year. Even at 80 percent he was better than most of the kids out there,” he said. “Ironically, I was going to call him Friday to get him to come out and train more.”</p><p>As well as taking a break from soccer, Salazar was making sure his academics were in order to improve his options for a scholarship.</p><p>The coach said he went to the hospital Sunday and spoke with Salazar and his family.</p><p>“He's a super likable nice kid, a real nice personality, just a good kid,” said Kinahan.</p>