Santa Rosa teen ID’d as victim in fatal Highway 101 car crash

A Santa Rosa teen was identified on Monday as the person who died in a fiery car crash on Highway 101 in south Santa Rosa over the weekend.

Authorities located Yaquelin Garcia Magdaleno, 16, inside a Toyota Camry that was resting on its roof and engulfed in flames just after 3 a.m. Saturday, the Sonoma County Coroner’s Office said.

While CHP investigators were still zeroing in Monday on the details of the crash, an initial investigation found that the Toyota was headed north on Highway 101, just south of the Yolanda Avenue exit, when it drifted to the right of the road and into the shoulder for unknown reasons.

The car smashed through a chain-link fence and struck two trees after passing over a ditch, where it landed in between the highway and the Bed Bath & Beyond parking lot on Santa Rosa Avenue, authorities said.

Garcia Magdaleno was pronounced dead at the scene.

Attempts to reach Garcia Magdaleno’s family on Facebook were not returned as of Monday afternoon.

Her Facebook page indicated she had attended Santa Rosa High.

A photo posted in 2019 showed her and two friends in cheerleader uniforms embroidered with the word “Panthers,” the Santa Rosa High mascot.

As of Monday, authorities had not determined whether Garcia Magdaleno was the person behind the wheel during the crash, CHP spokesman Officer David deRutte said.

Investigators were still working out details about how the teen ended up in the car and its speed at the time of the crash, deRutte said.

He asked anyone with information about the crash to call the Santa Rosa CHP unit at 707-588-1400.

“Anyone with information, we would appreciate the help,” deRutte said.

You can reach Staff Writer Nashelly Chavez at 707-521-5203 or nashelly.chavez@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @nashellytweets.