A tragic single-vehicle crash in Dana Point on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, has claimed the life of 16-year-old Rebecca Cespedes, a student at Dana Hills High School, and left five other juveniles injured. The accident occurred just before noon along Dana Point Harbor Drive near Island Way, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Deputies responded to the scene to find a pickup truck carrying six teenagers had veered off the road and collided with a tree. Rebecca Cespedes, the driver of the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. She was a resident of Dana Point and a beloved member of the Dana Hills High School community.
The remaining five passengers—also students at Dana Hills—were transported to area hospitals. Three of the teens (one female and two males) sustained critical injuries but are expected to survive, according to authorities. The two others (one male and one female) suffered minor injuries.
Investigators with the Sheriff’s Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) are working to determine the cause of the crash. At this time, it is unknown whether speed, alcohol, or drugs played a role. The department is urging anyone with information about the incident or who may have witnessed the crash to come forward.
“This is a devastating loss,” said a spokesperson from Dana Hills High School. “Rebecca was a bright and caring young woman with her whole future ahead of her. Our hearts are broken, and we are keeping her family, friends, and fellow students in our thoughts.”
In the wake of the tragedy, the Capistrano Unified School District has dispatched grief counselors to Dana Hills High to support students and staff grappling with the sudden loss.
Community members are rallying around the families involved, with messages of support and condolences pouring in on social media. A growing memorial of flowers and candles has begun to form near the site of the crash.
Anyone with relevant information about the incident is asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Traffic Bureau at 949-425-1860. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
As Dana Point mourns the heartbreaking loss of one of its own, the community is reminded of the fragility of life and the importance of coming together in times of sorrow.
