Shock and disbelief Tuesday as family and friends of Kegin York,22, Shelby Biaggini, 23, Taylan Perez, 22, and Karen Montes Cabrera, 21, learned the tragic news that their loved ones had died in a car crash near Templeton.
"I saw the news, but I didn't believe it was somebody I knew personally," said Montes Cabrera's friend Ashley Vergara.
"We were with Kegin yesterday. My son was scootering with him in the parking lot. It's a really rough day today," said Alison Carscaden, York's boss and co-owner of 15-C Wine Shop and Bar in Templeton.
The California Highway Patrol says the four were killed when York apparently tried braking at a high rate of speed and ultimately crashed into a tree just east of Deer View Lane.
Montes Cabrera's mom, Leonor, says her daughter was a friend to everyone she met.
"She loves everybody. She didn't have problems with anybody. She loved everyone no matter what. Karen is an excellent person," Cabrera said.
Friends say Montes Cabrera liked to explore and spend time outdoors.
"She was always in a good mood. She was always happy about life. She didn't have any enemies," said Vergara.
York and Biaggini worked together at 15-C Wine Shop and Bar. Their co-workers say they always made everyone around them feel good.
York was in the middle of paramedic school and was working toward getting hired as a firefighter.
"Kegin was one of the most happy, positive people with a fun attitude. We call it a 15-C family, and he's family and always will be," said Carscaden.
Biaggini had recently moved back to the Central Coast after spending some time living in Oregon.
"She was pretty much the same as Kegin -- spunky, beautiful, cute little girl. Both of them loved their cars. She's a local, and we have Templeton pride. We're trying to get through COVID and now we're trying to get through this," said Carscaden.
Throughout the day, people came to the crash site to leave mementos and pay respects to four lives taken too soon.
Click here for Kegin York's GoFundMe.
Click here for Shelby and Karen's joint GoFundMe.
Click here for Karen's GoFundMe.
Click here for Shelby's GoFundMe.
Click here for Taylan's GoFundMe.
Multiple attempts were made to contact family and friends of Perez but no messages were returned.
The CHP is asking anyone who witnessed the crash or the moments leading up to the crash to contact the CHP's Templeton office.
