The College of San Mateo accident refers to a fatal single-vehicle crash on northbound Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road in San Jose early Sunday, September 20, 2026. Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace, a 19-year-old freshman defensive back from Fairfield and a College of San Mateo football player, was killed after being ejected from the vehicle. Two other CSM student-athletes were injured, with one hospitalized in serious condition and another recovering at home, according to the college’s president and local reporting.
Introduction
The College of San Mateo accident has left the college’s football program and the wider Bay Area community mourning the death of 19-year-old Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace.
Grace was a freshman defensive back for the College of San Mateo Bulldogs football team. He was killed in a single-vehicle crash on northbound Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road in San Jose during the early morning hours of Sunday, September 20, 2026.
The California Highway Patrol said the driver of a 2013 Ford Fusion lost control while traveling northbound. Grace, who was a passenger, was ejected and died from his injuries. The 19-year-old driver from San Mateo suffered major injuries, while another passenger was also injured. College officials later confirmed that all three people involved were CSM student-athletes.
The incident is still under investigation, and authorities have not publicly established why the driver lost control of the vehicle.
What Happened in the College of San Mateo Accident?
The crash happened at approximately 2:06 a.m. Sunday, September 20, on northbound Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road in San Jose.
According to information attributed to the California Highway Patrol, a 2013 Ford Fusion was traveling northbound when the driver lost control.
Grace was riding as a passenger. Authorities said he was ejected from the vehicle during the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. He was 19 years old.
The driver, also 19, was taken to a hospital with major injuries. A third occupant survived the crash as well.
College of San Mateo subsequently confirmed that three of its football players were involved. CSM President Manuel Alejandro Pérez told the campus community that one student had died, another remained hospitalized with serious injuries, and the third was recovering at home.
The crash occurred away from the College of San Mateo campus itself. The college is located at 1700 West Hillsdale Boulevard in San Mateo, while the fatal collision occurred on Highway 101 in San Jose.
Key details of the crash
- Date: Sunday, September 20, 2026
- Approximate time: 2:06 a.m.
- Location: Northbound Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road, San Jose
- Vehicles involved: One 2013 Ford Fusion
- Fatality: Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace, 19
- College: College of San Mateo
- Sport: Football
- Position: Defensive back
- Hometown: Fairfield, California
- Other occupants: Two fellow CSM student-athletes
- Driver’s condition: Major injuries reported
- Third student’s condition: Recovering at home, according to the college
- Investigation: Ongoing
The basic crash details come from the California Highway Patrol information reported by Bay Area news organizations.
Who Was Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace?
Ja’Marion Grace was a 19-year-old freshman defensive back at College of San Mateo.
He was from Fairfield, California, and had attended Vanden High School before joining the CSM football program. Reports from Bay Area media say Grace had recently begun his college football career and had already appeared in a game for the Bulldogs during the 2026 season.
Grace was known to teammates by the nickname “Pop.”
His death was announced by the College of San Mateo football program on September 21. The team described him as an important member of its football family and remembered his personality, energy and ability to connect with people.
His family has also been receiving community support following the crash. A fundraising campaign was established to help with funeral expenses.
College of San Mateo Football Team Responds
The CSM football program publicly paid tribute to Grace following his death.
The team described Grace as more than a teammate and said he had become like a brother to those around him. The tribute focused on his smile, energy, humor and relationships with teammates.
CSM President Manuel Alejandro Pérez also addressed the college community after learning that three student-athletes had been involved in the crash.
Pérez expressed sympathy for Grace’s family, friends, teammates, coaches and classmates and acknowledged the difficulty of the news for people who knew the students personally.
The response from the college and football team reflects that the crash affected not only Grace’s immediate family but also the student-athletes, coaches and wider CSM community.
What Happened to the Other College of San Mateo Players?
Two other CSM football players were injured in the same crash.
The college president’s statement said that one student remained hospitalized with serious injuries while another was recovering at home. Their identities were not officially released in the college’s public statement cited by major news outlets.
Because the medical situation of injured students can change, reports about their conditions should be treated according to the most recent information available.
The central confirmed point is that three CSM football players were involved in the crash: Grace died, while two other students survived with injuries.
What Caused the Highway 101 Crash?
The cause of the College of San Mateo accident has not been determined publicly.
The California Highway Patrol’s preliminary investigation found that the driver of the Ford Fusion lost control while traveling northbound on Highway 101.
However, that preliminary finding does not establish why the driver lost control.
Authorities also said it was not known whether alcohol or drugs were factors in the collision. No conclusion on impairment should therefore be drawn from the available information.
This distinction is important because preliminary crash investigations can change as investigators examine evidence, vehicle conditions, witness information and other circumstances.
At the time of the latest reporting, authorities were still asking anyone with information about the collision to contact the California Highway Patrol’s San Jose office.
What Officials Said About the Investigation
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the collision.
The preliminary information indicates that the vehicle was traveling northbound on Highway 101 when the driver lost control. Investigators have not announced a final determination explaining the loss of control.
The CHP has asked potential witnesses with information about the crash to contact its San Jose office at 408-961-0900.
The college, meanwhile, has focused its public response on supporting the affected students, their families and the football community.
Grace’s Football Background
Grace’s death came just as he was beginning his college football career.
Before joining College of San Mateo, he played at Vanden High School in Fairfield. Local reporting says he helped Vanden win the California Interscholastic Federation Division 3-A state championship in 2024 as a senior. He also recorded multiple interceptions during that championship season.
At CSM, Grace was listed as a freshman defensive back. He had appeared in one game during the 2026 season before his death, according to reporting on the team.
That background has become part of the tributes surrounding his death, as former teammates, current Bulldogs players and members of his hometown community remember a young athlete whose college career had only just begun.
Why This Matters
The College of San Mateo accident matters first and foremost because a 19-year-old student-athlete lost his life and two other young people were injured.
For the CSM community, the incident also highlights how quickly a football season can be overshadowed by a personal tragedy.
The college’s public-safety resources emphasize emergency preparedness and provide procedures for reporting emergencies and accessing assistance. CSM’s Public Safety Department operates around the clock and can be reached at 650-738-7000; emergencies requiring police, fire or medical assistance should be reported through 911.
For this particular crash, however, the investigation is being handled by the California Highway Patrol because the collision occurred on Highway 101 in San Jose.
It is also important not to confuse the location of the college with the location of the accident. Despite the search phrase “College of San Mateo Accident,” the fatal crash did not occur on the CSM campus. It occurred on Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road in San Jose.
What Happens Next?
The next major development is expected to come from the ongoing CHP investigation.
Investigators may determine additional details about the circumstances that caused the driver to lose control. At the time of publication, no final public determination had been reported explaining the crash.
The college community is also continuing to support Grace’s teammates and family.
A fundraising campaign has been established to assist with funeral expenses and related needs following his death.
Information about funeral or memorial arrangements should be confirmed through Grace’s family or an authorized announcement. Unverified social-media posts should not be treated as official information.
What Readers Should Know
The most reliable currently reported facts are:
- Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace was 19 years old.
- He was a freshman football player at College of San Mateo.
- He died following a single-vehicle crash on Highway 101 in San Jose.
- The crash occurred early Sunday, September 20, 2026.
- Two other CSM football players were injured.
- One injured student was reported hospitalized with serious injuries, while another was recovering at home.
- CHP said the driver lost control of the vehicle.
- Authorities had not determined whether alcohol or drugs were involved.
- The investigation remains ongoing.
- No final public explanation for the crash had been announced in the latest reports reviewed for this article.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the College of San Mateo accident?
A single-vehicle crash occurred on northbound Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road in San Jose early Sunday, September 20, 2026. A 19-year-old College of San Mateo football player, Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace, was killed and two other CSM student-athletes were injured.
Who was killed in the College of San Mateo crash?
The person killed was Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace, a 19-year-old freshman defensive back from Fairfield who played football at College of San Mateo.
Where did the College of San Mateo accident happen?
The crash happened on northbound Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road in San Jose, California, rather than on the College of San Mateo campus.
When did the crash happen?
The collision occurred early Sunday morning, September 20, 2026, at approximately 2:06 a.m., according to information attributed to the California Highway Patrol.
Were other College of San Mateo football players injured?
Yes. Two other CSM football players were involved and injured. The college president said one remained hospitalized with serious injuries and another was recovering at home.
What caused the Highway 101 crash?
Authorities have not publicly established a final cause. CHP’s preliminary investigation indicated that the driver of a 2013 Ford Fusion lost control while traveling northbound. Officials said it was not known whether alcohol or drugs were factors.
Was the crash on the College of San Mateo campus?
No. The crash happened on Highway 101 in San Jose near Yerba Buena Road. College of San Mateo itself is located at 1700 West Hillsdale Boulevard in San Mateo.
Is the College of San Mateo accident investigation finished?
No. The crash investigation was still ongoing in the latest reports reviewed for this article. CHP was seeking information from witnesses and had not announced a final explanation for why the vehicle lost control.
