Wrightwood ejection crash leaves 4 friends dead as alcohol cited along with passengers not wearing seatbelts during deadly scenic ride along California mountain road. Victims id as Rebekah Cabral-Gonzalez, 21, Jason Potter, 19, Nevaeh Harper, 20, along with Cole Torres.
Four friends are reported to have died after being ejected from their vehicle along Wrightwood in California after their car veering off a cliff early Friday.
Identified as the deceased were; Rebekah Cabral-Gonzalez, 21, Jason Potter, 19, Nevaeh Harper, 20, along with a fourth passenger according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Social media identified the fourth individual killed in the crash as Cole Torres according to the dailymail.
#BreakingNews: Four people were killed and another person was injured in a rollover crash on the eastern edge of the Angeles National Forest early Friday. https://t.co/WPtXGEnVdx pic.twitter.com/tewLgfVNyx
— KTLA (@KTLA) September 4, 2026
Five of six passengers ejected with none wearing seatbelts
Two others were injured in the single-car crash after their 2016 Hyundai Veloster veered off Angeles Crest 2 Highway’s scenic mountain road and crashed into a utility pole around 1:30 am, authorities said.
The two survivors were receiving care at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, where they were listed in critical condition. All of the victims were from Wrightwood, a small mountain community in San Bernardino County.
Five of the six were ejected from the hatchback vehicle, Antelope Valley Press reported citing authorities.
A preliminary investigation showed that none of the passengers were wearing seatbelts at the time, according to the California Highway Patrol. Five of the six were ejected from the hatchback.
Authorities believe alcohol to be a ‘contributing factor’ to the wreck.
Online tributes celebrated the deceased
According to a created GoFundme on behalf of Cabral-Gonzalez, the 21-year-old was described as a ‘bright light, a free spirit with an incredible zest for life, a kind heart, and a genuine love for the outdoors.’
Several friends of Cabral-Gonzalez posted online tributes mourning the young woman in the aftermath.
‘I really wish [R]ebeka, the most kind and generous soul I have ever encountered and will ever encounter, can rest in peace,’ one wrote on Instagram. ‘She was such an incredible voice for the unvoiced and a beautiful soul that could never be replaced…you of all people deserved to be here right now.’
Cabral-Gonzalez’s social media profiles list her as having studied psychology at the University of Arizona in 2025. She listed her jobs as a certified ski instructor and an Applied Behavior Analysis technician.
Scenic cruise ending in tragedy
Potter was said to be an ‘incredibly talented snowboarder who had a way of bringing so much life and energy into every space he entered.’
‘His infectious energy, his passion, and the way he connected with people made him someone who was deeply loved by his family, his friends, and so many in our community,’ his GoFundMe page said.
‘Jason touched more lives than he probably ever realized, and the love surrounding his family is a reflection of just how special he was.’
One Wrightwood resident told KTLA that the victims were ‘kids from town’ who liked to hang out at the local skate park.
‘They just wanted to cruise up the highway, go look at the stars,’ the resident, Johnny Stull, said. ‘And they’re dead now.’
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