The Ja’Marion Grace accident was 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 at College of San Mateo from Fairfield, was ejected from a 2013 Ford Fusion and died at the scene. Two other College of San Mateo football players were injured, while authorities continue investigating why the vehicle lost control.
Introduction
The Ja’Marion Grace accident has left the College of San Mateo football community and Grace’s family and friends mourning the death of a 19-year-old student-athlete.
Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace, a freshman defensive back from Fairfield, California, was killed early Sunday morning, September 20, after a vehicle carrying him and two other College of San Mateo football players crashed on northbound Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road in San Jose.
According to information from the California Highway Patrol reported by Bay Area news organizations, the driver of a 2013 Ford Fusion lost control of the vehicle at approximately 2:06 a.m. Grace was a passenger and was ejected from the vehicle. He died from his injuries. The driver, also 19, was hospitalized with major injuries, while a third student-athlete was also injured.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation. Authorities have not publicly established a final cause, and the available reporting does not confirm that alcohol, drugs or another specific factor caused the collision.
What Happened in the Ja’Marion Grace Accident?
The crash occurred during the early hours of Sunday, September 20, on Highway 101 in San Jose.
The California Highway Patrol responded to the area of Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road shortly after 2 a.m. Preliminary information indicated that a 2013 Ford Fusion was traveling northbound when its 19-year-old driver lost control.
Grace was one of the passengers.
During the crash, he was ejected from the vehicle and suffered fatal injuries. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene, according to reporting based on CHP information.
The driver was transported to a hospital with major injuries.
College officials later confirmed that the vehicle involved carried three CSM student-athletes. One student died, another remained hospitalized with serious injuries, and a third was recovering at home, according to the college’s communication reported by Bay Area media.
Key details about the crash
- Victim: Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace
- Age: 19
- Hometown: Fairfield, California
- College: College of San Mateo
- Sport: Football
- Position: Defensive back
- Crash date: September 20, 2026
- Approximate time: 2:06 a.m.
- Location: Northbound Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road, San Jose
- Vehicle: 2013 Ford Fusion
- Fatality: Grace died after being ejected
- Other occupants: Two fellow CSM student-athletes
- Investigation: Ongoing
- CHP information line: 408-961-0900 for people with information about the crash
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 and previously attended Vanden High School, where he played football before continuing his athletic career at the community college level. Bay Area reporting identified him as a young player who was only beginning his college football career.
Grace was known to family and teammates by the nickname “Pop.”
His death came during the 2026 College of San Mateo football season. CSM entered the season as the two-time defending California community college state champion and was coming off a 12-1 campaign in 2025. The school’s own preseason coverage described the 2026 Bulldogs as a young team facing another difficult schedule.
That context helps explain why Grace’s death has been particularly difficult for the program: he was not simply a student at the college but a member of a football team with a strong recent championship history.
Grace Had Just Played for College of San Mateo
One detail that has emerged from the reporting is that Grace had been active with the Bulldogs shortly before the crash.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Grace played in CSM’s victory over Modesto Junior College on Saturday night, September 19, only hours before the fatal crash.
The timing has added to the shock surrounding his death.
Grace was at the beginning of his college football journey, making the loss especially significant to teammates and people who had followed his development from high school into college athletics.
College of San Mateo Football Team Remembers Grace
Following his death, the College of San Mateo football program publicly paid tribute to Grace.
The team described him as more than a teammate and emphasized the close relationships he had developed within the Bulldogs program. The football team’s tribute highlighted his energy, smile, humor and the way he interacted with teammates both on and off the field.
The message reflected how Grace was remembered inside the program rather than focusing only on his statistics or playing role.
That distinction is important. Grace was 19 and had only recently started his college career, so the response from teammates has centered heavily on his personality and relationships.
What Did College Officials Say?
College officials confirmed that three CSM football players were involved in the crash.
A statement from the college president expressed sympathy for the families, friends, teammates, coaches and classmates affected by the death and injuries. The college also emphasized the importance of coming together to support the students and the wider community during the aftermath.
Reports have differed on the name of the college president in some secondary coverage, so this article does not rely on those conflicting identifiers. The consistent point across the reporting is that the college confirmed the involvement of three student-athletes and the death of Grace.
The college’s response has focused on supporting the football program and those affected rather than speculating about the cause of the crash.
What Happened to the Other Players?
Two other College of San Mateo football players were injured in the same crash.
According to the college’s reported statement, one of the students remained hospitalized with serious injuries, while the other was home recovering. The two injured students had not been publicly identified by the college in the reports reviewed for this article.
Their medical situations may change, so older reports should not automatically be treated as current medical updates.
At this stage, the confirmed information is that both survived the crash but sustained injuries.
What Caused the Ja’Marion Grace Accident?
The exact cause of the Ja’Marion Grace accident has not been determined publicly.
The California Highway Patrol’s preliminary information says the driver of the Ford Fusion lost control while traveling northbound on Highway 101.
However, “lost control” describes what happened immediately before the crash; it does not necessarily explain why the driver lost control.
Authorities have not publicly established whether speed, weather, road conditions, mechanical problems, impairment, distraction or another factor played a role.
CHP specifically said it was not known whether alcohol or drugs were involved. Therefore, claims on social media or elsewhere assigning a specific cause should not be treated as established facts unless investigators release additional information.
This is an important distinction in a developing crash investigation.
Family Remembers Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace
Grace’s family has spoken publicly about the loss.
ABC7 reported that Grace’s mother, Ashley Grant, said she had spoken with her son Saturday night, only hours before the crash. She said the family had expected to see him the following day.
KRON reporting also included comments from family members remembering Grace as determined, dedicated and full of life. His grandmother remembered him as someone who was always smiling and joking.
These personal accounts provide context beyond the official crash investigation: Grace was a son, grandson, brother, friend and student-athlete whose death has affected people well beyond the football field.
Fundraiser Created for Grace’s Family
A GoFundMe campaign titled “In Memory of Ja’Marion Pop Grace” has been established by Dominique Suber to help Grace’s family with funeral expenses and other support following his death.
The fundraiser lists a $28,000 goal. Its stated purpose includes funeral costs and helping the family through the immediate aftermath of Grace’s death.
Because fundraising totals can change throughout the day, the amount should be treated as a live figure rather than a fixed statistic. The latest indexed GoFundMe information available for this article showed more than $17,000 raised from more than 230 donations.
The fundraiser’s description identifies Grace as a son, grandson, brother and friend and asks supporters to help the family navigate the loss.
Background: College of San Mateo Football
The tragedy occurred during a particularly successful period for the College of San Mateo football program.
CSM’s own athletics review says the Bulldogs won the 2025 3C2A State Championship, finished 12-1 and captured their second consecutive state title. The program had won three state championships in four seasons.
Ahead of the 2026 season, CSM was ranked No. 1 in the state preseason poll, receiving 12 of 13 first-place votes from the California Community College Football Coaches Association, according to the college’s published preseason coverage.
Grace joined that program as a freshman defensive back.
The significance of his death therefore extends through a team that was in the middle of another competitive season. But for his teammates and family, the focus has shifted away from football results and toward mourning and supporting those affected.
Why the Ja’Marion Grace Accident Matters
The tragedy matters primarily because a 19-year-old student-athlete lost his life and two other young people were injured.
It also illustrates why preliminary crash information needs to be handled carefully.
In the first days after a fatal collision, information often comes from several sources at different stages. CHP provides preliminary investigative information, the college confirms the connection to its students, family members provide personal accounts, and news organizations report developments as they become available.
Those sources do not necessarily answer the same questions.
For example, CHP information can establish where and when a collision occurred and what investigators initially observed. A college can confirm the identities and status of its students. Family members can describe the person who died. None of those sources, by themselves, necessarily establishes the final cause of a collision.
In Grace’s case, the available evidence establishes the crash, the fatality and the injuries, but the final reason the driver lost control remains unknown.
What Happens Next?
The California Highway Patrol’s investigation remains the key next step.
Investigators may release additional information after reviewing evidence from the scene, vehicle and witnesses. A final determination about the circumstances of the collision could provide more information about why the vehicle lost control.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant information can contact the CHP San Jose office at 408-961-0900, according to the agency information reported by CBS News.
The College of San Mateo community is also expected to continue supporting Grace’s teammates and the two students who were injured.
As of September 24, 2026, no final public determination of the crash’s cause had been identified in the reliable sources reviewed for this article.
Latest Ja’Marion Grace Accident Update
The latest available information establishes the following:
- Grace was 19 years old.
- He was a freshman defensive back at College of San Mateo.
- He was from Fairfield, California.
- He was known as “Pop.”
- He died after being ejected from a vehicle during a Highway 101 crash.
- The crash happened near Yerba Buena Road in San Jose.
- Two other CSM football players were injured.
- One injured student was reported to be hospitalized with serious injuries.
- Another was reported to be recovering at home.
- CHP said the driver lost control of a 2013 Ford Fusion.
- Authorities have not established a final cause.
- CHP said it was not known whether alcohol or drugs were involved.
- A fundraiser has been established to assist Grace’s family with funeral expenses and related support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Ja’Marion Grace?
Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace, a 19-year-old College of San Mateo football player, died after being ejected from a vehicle involved in a single-vehicle crash on Highway 101 in San Jose on September 20, 2026.
When did the Ja’Marion Grace accident happen?
The crash occurred early Sunday morning, September 20, 2026, at approximately 2:06 a.m., according to California Highway Patrol information reported by Bay Area media.
Where did Ja’Marion Grace’s accident happen?
The crash happened on northbound Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road in San Jose, California. It did not occur on the College of San Mateo campus.
How old was Ja’Marion Grace?
Ja’Marion Grace was 19 years old. He was a freshman defensive back at College of San Mateo and was from Fairfield, California.
Were other people injured in the Ja’Marion Grace crash?
Yes. Two other College of San Mateo football players were injured. One was reported to remain hospitalized with serious injuries, while another was recovering at home.
What caused the Ja’Marion Grace accident?
The final cause has not been publicly determined. CHP’s preliminary investigation found that the driver lost control of a 2013 Ford Fusion while traveling northbound on Highway 101. Authorities said it was not known whether alcohol or drugs were involved.
Who was Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace?
Grace was a freshman defensive back at College of San Mateo and a Fairfield native who previously attended Vanden High School. His teammates knew him by the nickname “Pop” and remembered him for his energy, humor and personality.
Is there a fundraiser for Ja’Marion Grace’s family?
Yes. A GoFundMe fundraiser organized by Dominique Suber was created to help Grace’s family with funeral expenses and other support following his death. The campaign has a $28,000 goal.
