Drunk driver kills three UC Davis students, including two Fil-Ams in horrific crash

Students Codi Orland Mateo of Pasco, Washington and Margarette Guinto Ventura of Virginia Beach, Virginia were among the fatalities in a vehicular crash near Manteca, California. FACEBOOK

Three students of the University of California at Davis, including two Filipino Americans, died in the 6-car chain reaction crash on Highway 99 near Manteca, California last April 1, the California Highway Patrol and the university confirmed.

Authorities believe the crash was caused by a drunk driver who also died in the mishap. CHP said the driver drove into oncoming traffic, hitting a U-Haul van then slamming into the Subaru carrying the three students going the other way.

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

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. Minkyu Geon of Hong Kong was a junior majoring in electrical engineering.

Margarette Guinto Ventura was an intern with the student-run Bayanihan Clinic in Sacramento and was 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 was also 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.