Santa Cruz man killed after being ejected from truck on Watsonville highway

A 35-year-old Santa Cruz man died Sunday afternoon after his truck overturned on an off-ramp in Watsonville, ejecting him from the vehicle.

California Highway Patrol officers said the man was traveling northbound on Highway 1 when he tried to negotiate the Green Valley Road off-ramp. The truck veered to the right, went off the road and overturned, ejecting the driver.

He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The passenger, a 26-year-old Watsonville man, suffered minor injuries.

CHP officer Brad Sadek said it appears the driver wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. At the time, it’s unknown whether drugs or alcohol were involved. CHP is still investigating the collision.

The victims’ names have not yet been released.