The 16-year-old high school student killed in head-on crash last week was most likely not distracted by his cell phone, California Highway Patrol officials announced Thursday.
Julian Fraire, a junior at Steele Canyon High School, died March 20 when, for unknown reasons, he became distracted behind the wheel of his minivan and drifted across the double yellow lines.
He collided head-on with a Ford F-450 truck and was pronounced dead on the scene in the 2900 block of Steele Canyon Road, just north of Campo Road and two miles away from his school.
The truck’s driver was taken to the hospital for minor injuries.
CHP investigators took Fraire’s phone to review his records and see if that may have caused the distraction.
However, CHP Officer Kevin Pearlstein say there’s no indication he was texting or talking at the time of the crash.
"Julian’s phone was inspected and there was no evidence of him either texting or talking on his cell phone. The last text was from the night before," said Pearlstein.
"Also, the last call either incoming or outgoing was also the night before. Therefore it is determined he was not using his cell phone prior to this collision," he continued.
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The crash remains under investigation. The CHP previously said speed, drug or alcohol did not appear to be factors.
Wednesday night, friends, family and classmates held a candlelight vigil in Fraire’s honor at Steele Canyon High School.
Since his death, additional crisis counselors have been helping students at the school deal with their grief.
A memorial fund has also been set up to support the Fraire family. Donations can be made to “Mission Federal Credit Union – The Julian Fraire Memorial Fund.” They can be dropped off at any Mission Federal Credit Union Branch or at Steele Canyon High School.
