Three UC Davis Undergraduate Students Died in Fatal Collision on Highway 99

 

On April 4, the following was updated to include some of the students' activities on campus.


The University of California, Davis, learned that three of its students died in a traffic accident early Friday morning on Highway 99 in San Joaquin County. UC Davis is cooperating with authorities as needed. The university does not have further details to provide at this time.

UC Davis received permission from the families to release the names of those who died.

Minkyu Geon of Hong Kong was a junior majoring in electrical engineering. Margarette Guinto Ventura of Virginia Beach, Virginia, was a sophomore majoring in biological sciences. Codi Orland Mateo of Pasco, Washington, was a senior majoring in neurobiology, physiology and behavior.

Friends said Margarette Guinto Ventura was an intern with the student-run Bayanihan Clinic in Sacramento and participated in the Pre-Med American Medical Student Association at UC Davis. She also helped in the Student Advocate Office of the Associated Students of UC Davis.

Codi Mateo was an officer of the Filipinx Association for Health Careers and participated in the Thai American Student Association.

Minkyu Geon had been an undergraduate assistant in the Integration Engineering Laboratory.

All three lived in the residence halls last year, Minkyu Geon and Codi Mateo in Shasta Hall, and Margarette Guinto Ventura in Laben Hall.

“We are absolutely devastated and struggling to come to terms with such immense loss,” said Chancellor Gary S. May. “On behalf of the UC Davis community, we send our condolences to the family, friends and others who knew and loved them. Our Aggie family shares deeply in your pain and loss.”

As part of UC Davis’ postvention practice, university staff have reached out to the families to assist them through this difficult time.

UC Davis encourages the campus community to draw on each other and other resources for support. Student Health and Counseling Services (SHCS) offers confidential services for students, and consultation and crisis response for employees, students and parents (530-752-0871). The Academic and Staff Assistance Program (ASAP) offers confidential services to all UC Davis and UC Davis Health faculty, staff and families (530-752-2727).

Media Resources

Media Contact:

  • Julia Ann Easley, News and Media Relations, 530-219-4545, jaeasley@ucdavis.edu

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