Cody Stark-McCollum Killed in DUI Pedestrian Crash on Mission Street [Santa Cruz, CA]

22-Year-Old Pedestrian Dies after Struck by Drunk Driver in Santa Cruz, Arthur Tessaro Arrested

 
SANTA CRUZ, CA (July 4, 2024) – Cody Stark-McCollum was killed in a DUI pedestrian crash in the Santa Cruz area early Wednesday morning on July 3.
 
The fatal crash happened around 3:30 a.m. at the intersection of Mission Street and Laurel Street. According to the Santa Cruz Police Department, a vehicle traveling south on Mission Street struck Stark-McCollum in the road.
 
Responding paramedics rushed Stark-McCollum to a trauma center in San Jose, where he succumbed to his injuries.
 
Stark-McCollum was 22 years old. He recently attended UC Santa Cruz as an undergraduate to study biology and worked locally in the medical field.
 
The driver of the vehicle, identified as 61-year-old Arthur Tessaro of Santa Cruz, stayed on scene and cooperated with officers. Police later arrested him on suspicion of drunken driving.
 
Although a criminal pre-filing is listed against Tessaro in Santa Cruz County Superior Court records, formal charges were not yet listed Wednesday.

Tessaro bailed out of jail custody. He is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment on his bond July 17.

We express our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Cody Stark-McCollum.

Talk to our legal professionals at The Law Offices of Daniel Kim if you have lost a loved one in a DUI crash. We house excellent litigators who will work with you through every stage of the legal process. Our main goal is to help you obtain both justice and maximum compensation you deserve. While you cope with grief, we will handle the rest. Call (800) 895-7199 to schedule a free consultation. In addition, you can also request a copy of the police report from the accident. Above all, our team is here for you every step of the way.