Cabrillo football player dies in Freedom Boulevard crash – The Pajaronian

A 23-year-old man killed in a head-on collision in Aptos early Saturday morning has been identified as Luke Salem, a Harbor High School graduate who played football for Cabrillo College.

According to the California Highway Patrol, a 49-year-old man was driving a red 2017 Honda CRV eastbound on Freedom Boulevard at an undetermined speed at around 7:35 a.m.

Salem was driving a white 1966 Chrysler Newport westbound on Freedom Boulevard at an unknown speed.

For reasons still under investigation, the two vehicles collided head-on, resulting in the death of Salem, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Honda suffered minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital.

The cause of the crash is still being investigated.

Salem began playing for Cabrillo in 2019, Cabrillo head coach Justin Hansen said. The program dropped in 2020, but he returned in 2022 and was signed up for his sophomore year this year.

Hansen described Salem as a friendly, outgoing person who welcomed new teammates and supported those who were struggling.

Although Salem was a talented wide receiver, it was those qualities that counted, Hansen said.

“The football stuff doesn't really matter, he could have been the next Odell Beckham,” he said. “The bigger picture was that he was a great person inside and out. That didn't change when he went through a tough time or didn't have success. He continued to be a great person and that's a much better person than me, that's for sure.”

According to the CHP, it is not known whether alcohol and/or drugs played a role in the accident.