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. Grace, a 19-year-old College of San Mateo freshman football player from Fairfield, was a passenger in a 2013 Ford Fusion and was ejected when the driver lost control; he died at the scene. Two other College of San Mateo football players were also injured.
Introduction
The Ja’Marion Grace accident has left the College of San Mateo football program, Grace’s family and the wider Bay Area community mourning the death of a 19-year-old student-athlete.
Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace was a freshman defensive back for the College of San Mateo Bulldogs and a recent graduate of Vanden High School in Fairfield. He died early Sunday, September 20, 2026, after a single-vehicle crash on northbound Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road in San Jose.
Grace was one of three College of San Mateo student-athletes in the vehicle. Two other players survived the crash but were injured. College officials said one remained hospitalized with serious injuries while the other was recovering at home.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the collision. Its preliminary investigation found that the driver of a 2013 Ford Fusion lost control while traveling northbound. Authorities have not publicly established what caused the driver to lose control.
What Happened in the Ja’Marion Grace Accident?
The crash happened at approximately 2:06 a.m. on September 20 on northbound Highway 101 near the Yerba Buena Road area of San Jose.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the vehicle was a 2013 Ford Fusion. The 19-year-old driver from San Mateo lost control of the vehicle.
Grace was riding as a passenger. During the crash, he was ejected from the vehicle and suffered fatal injuries. Authorities pronounced him dead at the scene.
The driver suffered major injuries and was taken to a hospital. A second passenger also sustained injuries.
Later statements from College of San Mateo confirmed that all three occupants were student-athletes at the college.
Important correction about Grace’s role in the crash
Some online reports have contained inconsistent descriptions of who was driving.
The reporting from CBS San Francisco, NBC Bay Area and KTVU is clear: Ja’Marion Grace was a passenger, not the driver. The driver was identified as a 19-year-old man from San Mateo.
That distinction is important when discussing the circumstances of the accident.
Key Details of the Ja’Marion Grace Accident
- Victim: Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace
- Age: 19
- Hometown: Fairfield, California
- College: College of San Mateo
- Football position: Defensive back
- Previous school: Vanden High School
- Date of crash: September 20, 2026
- Time: Approximately 2:06 a.m.
- Location: Northbound Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road, San Jose
- Vehicle: 2013 Ford Fusion
- Grace’s role: Passenger
- Fatal injuries: Grace was ejected and died at the scene
- Other occupants: Two College of San Mateo student-athletes
- Investigation: California Highway Patrol
- Current status: Investigation ongoing
Who Was Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace?
Grace was a 19-year-old freshman defensive back who had recently started his college football career at College of San Mateo.
He was from Fairfield and attended Vanden High School before joining the CSM Bulldogs. College athletics information identified him as a freshman member of the football program.
Grace was also known by the nickname “Pop.”
His time at College of San Mateo was short, but teammates said he quickly became a recognizable and valued part of the football program.
Reports indicate that Grace had already appeared in a CSM game during the 2026 season. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that he played in the Bulldogs’ victory over Modesto Junior College shortly before the crash.
His death therefore came at the beginning of a college football journey that was still developing.
College of San Mateo Football Team Remembers Grace
The College of San Mateo football team publicly mourned Grace after learning of his death.
The Bulldogs described him as much more than a teammate and emphasized his personality and relationships with others.
In a social media tribute, the team said Grace brought energy and a smile to the people around him and remembered him for dancing in the locker room, joking during team meetings and supporting teammates away from the field.
The message reflected the personal impact of the loss on the football program.
For a college athletic team, teammates often spend substantial amounts of time together through practices, games, travel and daily campus life. Grace’s death therefore affected a group that had only recently begun building those relationships with him.
Two Other College of San Mateo Players Were Injured
Grace was not the only CSM student-athlete involved.
Two other football players were injured in the crash.
College President Manuel Alejandro Perez said in a statement that three student-athletes were involved. According to CBS San Francisco’s report, one student remained hospitalized with serious injuries while another was home recovering.
NBC Bay Area also reported that two of Grace’s teammates were injured, although its initial report did not provide the same level of detail about their medical conditions.
The identities of the two injured players have not been widely identified in the major reports reviewed for this article.
Their recovery is therefore an important part of the continuing story, but medical details should not be assumed beyond what the college or reliable reporting has publicly confirmed.
What Did the California Highway Patrol Say?
The California Highway Patrol is handling the crash investigation.
CHP’s preliminary investigation found that the Ford Fusion was traveling northbound on Highway 101 when the driver lost control.
That establishes the immediate sequence described by investigators, but it does not establish why the driver lost control.
As of the latest reporting available on September 24, authorities had not publicly announced a final cause for the collision.
CHP also said it was not known whether alcohol or drugs were involved.
That means readers should avoid treating claims about impairment as established facts. The available official information does not establish that alcohol or drugs caused the crash.
Anyone with information about the collision has been asked to contact the CHP San Jose office at 408-961-0900.
What College of San Mateo Said
College President Manuel Alejandro Perez expressed sympathy for the families, friends, teammates, coaches and classmates affected by the accident.
The college’s statement emphasized that the incident affected three student-athletes and the wider CSM community.
The football team also issued its own tribute to Grace, calling him part of the Bulldogs family and remembering the energy and warmth he brought to the team.
The response from both the college administration and football program demonstrates that the accident has become a community-wide loss rather than simply a sports story.
Grace’s Family Remembers Him as “Pop”
Family members have also spoken publicly about Grace following the accident.
His mother, Ashley Grant, told KRON that she had spoken with her son on Saturday night, only hours before the crash.
She remembered him as a young man who was still finding his way but was determined and dedicated.
His grandmother also remembered Grace as someone who joked and smiled frequently.
Those comments provide a more personal picture of Grace beyond his role as a football player.
For his family, the tragedy is not simply the loss of an athlete. It is the sudden loss of a son, grandson, brother and friend.
Grace’s Final Football Appearance
One detail that has emerged from reporting is that Grace had already played for College of San Mateo during the current season.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that he participated in CSM’s victory over Modesto Junior College the night before the crash.
Other reporting indicated that Grace appeared in one game and recorded one tackle during the season.
That information gives some context to how quickly the tragedy unfolded.
Grace was not a former player whose college career had ended. He was an active freshman athlete who had recently begun competing for the Bulldogs.
What Caused the Ja’Marion Grace Accident?
This remains one of the most important unanswered questions.
CHP has established that the driver lost control of the vehicle.
However, investigators have not publicly established the underlying cause of that loss of control.
Possible explanations discussed in general crash reporting can include speed, distraction, road conditions, mechanical problems or impairment, but there is no verified evidence currently available that establishes any of these as the cause in Grace’s crash.
Therefore, it would be inappropriate to state that any particular factor caused the accident unless investigators confirm it.
The same applies to alcohol or drugs. CHP said it was not known whether either was involved.
Why the Ja’Marion Grace Accident Matters
The death has had a significant effect on the College of San Mateo football community because Grace was an active member of the team and was only 19 years old.
He had recently graduated from high school and was beginning college life and his next stage of football.
The crash also involved two teammates, meaning the incident has simultaneously created grief and concern about the recovery of other members of the team.
For the Fairfield community, Grace’s death has also brought attention to the loss of a local young athlete who had recently begun pursuing his college goals.
Beyond this individual tragedy, the case illustrates why preliminary crash information needs to be separated from conclusions.
Authorities can establish what happened at the scene while the investigation into why it happened continues.
What Happens Next?
The California Highway Patrol investigation remains ongoing.
Investigators may continue examining the vehicle, roadway, evidence from the scene and available witness information to determine what caused the driver to lose control.
The medical recovery of the two surviving CSM players may also develop in the coming days and weeks.
Grace’s family is also receiving community support. Reports indicate that a GoFundMe campaign was established to help with funeral expenses and arrangements.
As of September 24, 2026, the reliable reports reviewed for this article did not provide confirmed details of a public funeral or memorial service.
That information should therefore not be reported as finalized unless the family or another authoritative source announces it.
The Latest Ja’Marion Grace Accident Update
The latest confirmed information is that Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace, a 19-year-old College of San Mateo freshman defensive back from Fairfield, died following a single-vehicle crash on Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road in San Jose.
The crash occurred at approximately 2:06 a.m. on September 20.
Grace was a passenger in a 2013 Ford Fusion. CHP said the 19-year-old driver from San Mateo lost control, and Grace was ejected and died at the scene. Two other CSM football players were injured.
The investigation remains open, and authorities have not publicly determined the underlying reason the vehicle lost control.
Meanwhile, Grace’s family and teammates continue to remember him as “Pop,” a young man whose energy, humor and personality made an impression on the people around him.
FAQs
What happened to Ja’Marion Grace?
Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace, a 19-year-old College of San Mateo football player, died after a single-vehicle crash on Highway 101 in San Jose on September 20, 2026. He was a passenger and was ejected from the vehicle.
Where did the Ja’Marion Grace accident happen?
The crash happened on northbound Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road in San Jose, California, at approximately 2:06 a.m.
Was Ja’Marion Grace driving the car?
No. Current reporting based on information from CHP identifies Grace as a passenger. The driver was a 19-year-old man from San Mateo.
How old was Ja’Marion Grace?
Grace was 19 years old. He was a freshman defensive back at College of San Mateo and a recent graduate of Vanden High School in Fairfield.
Were other College of San Mateo football players injured?
Yes. Two other CSM student-athletes were in the vehicle and were injured. One was reported to remain hospitalized with serious injuries, while another was recovering at home.
What caused the Ja’Marion Grace accident?
CHP’s preliminary investigation determined that the driver lost control of the Ford Fusion. However, investigators had not publicly established the underlying cause of the loss of control as of the latest reports.
Was alcohol or drugs involved in the crash?
That has not been established. CHP said it was not known whether alcohol or drugs were involved.
Who was Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace?
Grace was a 19-year-old freshman defensive back from Fairfield who played for the College of San Mateo Bulldogs. His teammates knew him by the nickname “Pop” and remembered him for his energy, humor and personality.
Is the Ja’Marion Grace accident investigation finished?
No. The CHP investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have asked anyone with information about the crash to contact the San Jose CHP office at 408-961-0900.
