Jenna Santos, 19, of Alameda, was killed in a car accident on Highway 101. Her passenger and best friend, Natalie Griffin, barely escaped death.

At about 7:30 p.m. last Wednesday, Santos’ 2004 Toyota Corolla lost control on a turn, hydroplaned, and fell down an embankment into Outlet Creek near Highway 101 between Laytonville and Willits. The car rolled over repeatedly before landing in deep water and beginning to sink.

Griffin was able to escape after swimming through a broken window. Unfortunately, Santos was unable to escape the sinking vehicle.

In an incredible story of survival, Griffin spent the rest of the night in a tree above the freezing water before swimming across the creek and climbing back up to the road the next morning. There, she was found by a driver, and briefly hospitalized before being released later that day.

Santos and Griffin had been driving back to the East Bay after visiting friends in Humboldt County when the accident occurred. The accident was reported to police at about 8:19 on Thursday morning, and remains under investigation. Santos’ body was found in the wreckage of the car by a member of the Little Lake Volunteer Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team.

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