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. Nineteen-year-old College of San Mateo freshman football player Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace, of Fairfield, was killed after being ejected from the vehicle, while two of his CSM teammates were injured. The California Highway Patrol says the driver lost control of a 2013 Ford Fusion; investigators have not publicly established what caused the driver to lose control.
College of San Mateo Accident Leaves Football Community Mourning
The College of San Mateo accident has left the school’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 and was from Fairfield, California. He died after a single-vehicle crash on Highway 101 in San Jose early Sunday morning, September 20, 2026.
Two other College of San Mateo football players were also in the vehicle and were injured. College officials said one remained hospitalized with serious injuries while the other was recovering at home.
The crash occurred near the Yerba Buena Road area shortly after 2 a.m. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision.
At this stage, authorities have not publicly determined why the vehicle lost control or whether alcohol or drugs were involved. Investigators have asked anyone with information about the crash to contact the California Highway Patrol’s San Jose office.
What Happened in the College of San Mateo Accident?
According to the California Highway Patrol, officers responded to a crash on northbound Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road at approximately 2:06 a.m. Sunday.
The preliminary investigation indicates that 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 and died at the scene.
The driver, identified in reports as a 19-year-old man from San Mateo, suffered major injuries and was transported to a hospital. A second passenger was also injured. Later statements from the college confirmed that all three people in the vehicle were College of San Mateo student-athletes.
The crash was not reported as an accident that occurred on the College of San Mateo campus itself. It happened on Highway 101 in San Jose, which is important because searches for “College of San Mateo accident” can otherwise make it sound as though the collision happened at the college.
Key details of the crash
- Date: Sunday, September 20, 2026
- Time: Approximately 2:06 a.m.
- Location: Northbound Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road, San Jose
- Vehicle: 2013 Ford Fusion
- Victim: Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace, 19
- Hometown: Fairfield, California
- College: College of San Mateo
- Football position: Defensive back
- Other occupants: Two College of San Mateo football teammates
- Fatality: Grace died after being ejected from the vehicle
- Investigation: California Highway Patrol
- Known cause: Investigators say the driver lost control, but the underlying cause remains under investigation.
Who Was Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace?
Ja’Marion Grace was a 19-year-old freshman at College of San Mateo and a member of the school’s Bulldogs football program.
He was known to friends, teammates and family by the nickname “Pop.”
Grace was from Fairfield and had previously attended Vanden High School. His transition to College of San Mateo represented the beginning of his college football career.
Although his time at CSM was brief, teammates described him as someone who quickly became an important part of the football community.
The CSM football program publicly mourned his death after the crash. In its tribute, the team described Grace as more than a teammate and emphasized his personality, smile, energy and relationships with those around him.
College of San Mateo Football Team Pays Tribute
The Bulldogs football program shared a tribute to Grace following his death.
The team remembered him as someone whose personality extended beyond football. Teammates recalled his humor, energy and ability to make people around him feel welcome.
The tribute also highlighted the close relationships developed inside the football program.
That reaction was echoed by Grace’s family members, who spoke publicly about his personality and the impact he had on people around him.
His mother, Ashley Grant, told local television station ABC7 that she had spoken with her son on Saturday night, only hours before the crash. She described the shock of learning about his death the following morning.
KRON also reported that family members gathered in Vacaville to remember Grace and described him as a determined young man with a lot of life ahead of him.
Two Other College of San Mateo Players Were Injured
The fatal crash did not involve Grace alone.
Two other CSM football players were also inside the vehicle.
A statement from the college community said that one student remained hospitalized with serious injuries, while another student was recovering at home. The identities of the two injured players have not been widely released in the reporting reviewed for this article.
The situation has therefore affected the CSM football program on several levels: the team is grieving the death of one player while also supporting teammates recovering from serious injuries.
College officials have expressed sympathy for the affected students, their families, teammates, coaches and classmates.
What Officials Know About the Highway 101 Crash
The California Highway Patrol’s preliminary account provides several important facts.
Investigators determined that the Ford Fusion was traveling northbound on Highway 101 before the driver lost control.
However, losing control is a description of what happened, not necessarily an explanation of why it happened.
That distinction is important while the investigation remains open.
As of the latest reports reviewed on September 24, authorities had not publicly established whether factors such as speed, roadway conditions, distraction, mechanical problems, alcohol or drugs caused the loss of control.
ABC7 reported that CHP said it was not known whether the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Therefore, claims about a specific cause should not be treated as confirmed unless investigators release additional findings.
What College of San Mateo Said
College of San Mateo officials acknowledged the loss and expressed support for the students and families affected by the crash.
A statement reported by CBS Bay Area said the crash involved three student-athletes and that one student had died, another was hospitalized with serious injuries and the third was recovering at home. College officials also expressed support for the wider CSM community.
The football program separately paid tribute to Grace, remembering him as an important member of the Bulldogs family.
The response illustrates the broader impact of the accident. While the crash occurred away from campus, the people involved were members of the same college athletic community.
Grace’s Football Journey Had Only Begun
Grace was still at the beginning of his college football career.
He had recently graduated from Vanden High School in Fairfield before joining College of San Mateo.
Reports indicate that he had already appeared for the Bulldogs during the 2026 season. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that he had played in CSM’s victory over Modesto Junior College shortly before the crash.
His death therefore came while he was beginning a new stage of both his education and football career.
For teammates and coaches, the loss is not only the death of a young athlete but also the sudden absence of someone they had come to know through practices, games, team meetings and everyday college life.
Family and Community Remember Ja’Marion Grace
Family members have spoken about Grace as a young man with a strong personality and an ability to connect with other people.
His mother described him as determined and said he had a way of keeping people smiling. His grandmother also remembered him as someone who joked frequently and brought happiness to those around him.
These personal memories have become an important part of coverage of the accident.
Rather than focusing only on the circumstances of the collision, Grace’s family and teammates have also emphasized the person he was away from the football field.
At 19, his life and athletic career were still developing.
Investigation Into the Accident Remains Ongoing
The California Highway Patrol continues to investigate the crash.
At the time of the latest reports, investigators had not announced a final explanation for the collision.
CHP has asked witnesses or anyone with relevant information to contact its San Jose office at 408-961-0900.
This means some details could change as investigators gather additional evidence.
For that reason, it is important to distinguish the preliminary facts from conclusions that have not yet been established.
What remains unconfirmed?
Several questions remain open:
- Why exactly did the driver lose control?
- Did road, weather or traffic conditions contribute?
- Did speed play a role?
- Was distraction a factor?
- Was alcohol or drug impairment involved?
- Will investigators determine another contributing factor?
None of these questions should be answered through speculation.
Why the College of San Mateo Accident Matters
The accident has significance beyond the immediate crash because it involves a young student-athlete and two other members of the same college community.
For the College of San Mateo football program, the loss affects teammates who shared the field and locker room with Grace.
For his family and Fairfield community, it represents the sudden loss of a 19-year-old whose adult life was only beginning.
It also highlights the importance of waiting for official crash investigations before drawing conclusions about fatal collisions.
Early reports often provide basic information such as location, vehicle and injuries. More detailed conclusions may take additional time as investigators review evidence and interview witnesses.
In Grace’s case, the initial CHP information establishes that the driver lost control of the vehicle and that Grace was ejected and died. It does not yet establish the underlying reason for the loss of control.
What Happens Next?
The immediate next step is the continued California Highway Patrol investigation.
Investigators are expected to determine, as far as the available evidence allows, what caused the vehicle to leave control and whether any additional factors contributed to the collision.
The condition and recovery of the two surviving CSM student-athletes may also continue to develop.
Meanwhile, Grace’s family, friends, teammates and the College of San Mateo community are mourning his death.
A GoFundMe campaign has also been established to help Grace’s family with funeral expenses. Local reports said community members were contributing to the fundraiser following his death.
As of September 24, 2026, detailed funeral or celebration-of-life arrangements were not confirmed in the reliable sources reviewed for this article.
The Latest on the College of San Mateo Accident
The most important confirmed facts remain straightforward: Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace, a 19-year-old College of San Mateo football player from Fairfield, died after a single-vehicle crash on Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road in San Jose on September 20.
Two of his CSM teammates were injured.
The California Highway Patrol says the driver lost control of the 2013 Ford Fusion, but the investigation has not publicly established the underlying cause.
As the investigation continues, Grace is being remembered by his family, teammates and college community for his personality, energy and relationships rather than only for the circumstances of his death.
FAQs
What happened in the College of San Mateo accident?
A vehicle carrying three College of San Mateo football players crashed on northbound Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road in San Jose early September 20, 2026. Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace, 19, died after being ejected, while two teammates were injured.
Who was killed in the College of San Mateo accident?
The victim was Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace, a 19-year-old freshman defensive back for the College of San Mateo football team from Fairfield, California.
Where did the College of San Mateo accident happen?
The crash occurred on northbound Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road in San Jose, California, not on the College of San Mateo campus.
When did the crash happen?
The California Highway Patrol responded at approximately 2:06 a.m. on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
How many people were injured?
Two other College of San Mateo football players were injured. Reports said one remained hospitalized with serious injuries while the other was recovering at home.
What caused the College of San Mateo accident?
The California Highway Patrol’s preliminary investigation found that the driver lost control of the vehicle. However, authorities had not publicly determined the underlying cause of the loss of control as of the latest reporting.
Was alcohol or drugs involved?
It had not been established whether alcohol or drugs were involved. ABC7 reported that CHP said it was unknown whether the driver was under the influence.
What is next in the investigation?
The California Highway Patrol is continuing its investigation and has asked people with information about the crash to contact its San Jose office at 408-961-0900.
