“Santa Cruz Mountains Fatal DUI Crash: Victim Identified by Deputies”
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man killed in a crash Thursday night in the Santa Cruz Mountains as 36-year-old Stephen David Bass, a resident of Boulder Creek.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the crash occurred around 10:17 p.m. on Highway 9 near Two Bar Road, north of Boulder Creek. A California State Parks Ranger attempted to pull over Bass, driving a black 2014 Mazda 3, but he failed to stop, leading to a brief chase. The vehicle veered off the road and crashed into a tree. CHP reported that Bass was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and died at the scene.
Highway 9 was temporarily closed but has since reopened.