Deadly crash on River Street leaves one dead and 4-year-old injured

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)- Early Thursday morning Santa Cruz Police responded to a crash that caused Highway 1 to close. The incident happened at the Highway 1 and River Street intersection around 12:45 a.m, said police.

A vehicle going northbound on Highway 1 hit 24-year-old Midori Montalvo and a 4-year-old girl who were crossing the roadway at the River Street intersection, said police.

The child is in stable condition, but the woman died of her injuries at the hospital. The driver remained at the scene and was fully cooperative with investigators, said police.

Montalvo was from Santa Cruz County, according to police. Police would not confirm the relationship between the victims and said that it is pending notification of next of kin. Both were believed to be living at the nearby homeless shelter, according to investigators.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, but police say the driver does not appear to have been impaired or negligent. Nobody has been arrested either, according to police

The intersection at Highway 1 and River Street is now open to traffic.