AN ACCIDENT ALONG A STRETCH OF HIGHWAY 101 KNOWN FOR NUMEROUS COLLISIONS LEFT 5 PEOPLE DEAD AND 4 INJURED. THE TWO CAR ACCIDENT OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT ON FRIDAY NIGHT. A 1990 GEO PRIZM DRIVEN BY AN UNLICENSED 17 YEAR OLD WATSONVILLE WOMAN MADE AN ILLEGAL U-TURN ONTO THE SOUTH BOUND LANES OF HIGHWAY 101. THE CAR WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALL PASSENGERS IN THE GEO PRIZM WERE KILLED. TWO OF THE VICTIMS WERE FROM APTOS, AND ONE WAS FROM PRUNEDALE. 3 OF THE VICTIMS, INCLUDING THE DRIVER WERE NOT WEARING SEATBELTS. NO FURTHER DETAILS REGARDING THEIR IDENTITIES HAVE BEEN RELEASED. AUTOPSIES ARE SCHEDULED FOR TODAY (MONDAY). THE PASSENGERS IN THE OTHER CAR WERE ALL FROM SALINAS. 3 OF THE PASSENGERS WERE TREATED AND RELEASED FROM SALINAS VALLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. THE REMAINING PASSENGER WAS TAKEN TO NATIVIDAD MEDICAL CENTER WHERE HER CONDITION WAS LISTED AS GUARDED.

AN ORDER MADE BY ON FRIDAY CALLS FOR A COMPANY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PRESENCE OF PERCHLORATE IN PARTS OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY TO COME UP WITH A CLEAN UP PLAN BY NEXT YEAR. THE STATE REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD ISSUED THE ORDER TO OLIN, A COMPANY THAT ONCE MANUFACTURED HIGHWAY FLARES IN THE AREA. THE COMPANY HAS ONE YEAR TO COMPLETE A PLAN OUTLINING THE MOST FEASIBLE CLEANUP LEVEL FOR PERCHLORATE IN GROUNDWATER IN THE AREA OF MORGAN HILL AND GILROY. OLIN WILL HAVE AN ADDITIONAL SIX MONTHS TO PRODUCE A 2ND DETAILED PLAN OF HOW THEY WILL CLEAN THE WATER, INCLUDING ALTERNATIVES, COST ESTIMATES AND TIME TABLES. FAILURE TO COMPLY COULD RESULT IN FINES OR CRIMINAL CHARGES.

TUESDAY NIGHT?S SANTA CRUZ CITY COUNCIL MEETING COULD SEE A PAY INCREASE FOR 14 EXECUTIVE EMPLOYEES. THE COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON THE POINT 75 PERCENT RAISE (.75), WHICH WOULD BE THE FIRST INCREASE IN NEARLY 3 YEARS. THE RAISE ALSO INCLUDES A ONE TIME ANNUAL BONUS AND FLOATING HOLIDAY IN JULY. THE RAISE IS VERY SIMILAR TO A RAISE THAT SERVICE EMPLOYEES REACHED IN EARLY DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR.

AN ELDERLY SALINAS MAN DIED IN A FIRE AT HIS HOME ON SATURDAY NIGHT. THE DEATH OF 81 YEAR OLD EUGENE ROLAND IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE MONTEREY COUNTY CORONER'S OFFICE AND THE SALINAS FIRE DEPARTMENT. FIREFIGHTERS AT THE HOUSE ADMINISTERED C.P.R. TO ROLAND AFTER RESPONDING TO A NEIGHBOR?S CALL ABOUT THE FIRE. A LIVE-IN CARETAKER AT THE HOME WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL. NO DETAILS ABOUT HOW THE FIRE STARTED WERE AVAILABLE, AND AN AUTOPSY IS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY (MONDAY).