High youth wrestling coach allegedly caused Nipomo crash

November 5, 2015

A 10-year-old Santa Maria boy suffered numerous fractures, head injures, a failed kidney and a collapsed lung after his youth wrestling coach, who was allegedly high on drugs, caused a car crash in Nipomo last month. [KSBY]

Several days ago, Elijah Olivas was fighting for his life in a Bay Area hospital. In addition to placing him in a coma, doctors had to sever his hand and reattach it.

Doctors also had to treat Olivas’s facial fractures, brain swelling, internal bleeding, broken clavicle and broken pelvis. The failed kidney and collapsed lung each healed on their own. Olivas is now awake and his condition is improving.

On the evening of Oct. 19, a green Toyota Avalon was speeding on southbound Highway 101 just north of Highway 166. The car crashed into the center ridge, crossed over the divider, rolled across the northbound lanes, left the highway and landed on Thompson Avenue.

John Gilbert Martinez Jr., 58, assaulted the 16-year-old driver of the vehicle, causing the teen to lose control of the car, according to CHP investigators. The collision caused all four occupants of the vehicle to suffer injuries.

Three children, ages 10, 13 and 16, were in the vehicle with Martinez. They were reportedly heading to wrestling practice at the time.

On Wednesday, the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against Martinez. Prosecutors charged Martinez with several accounts of child abuse and aggravated assault. He is also charged with DUI because prosecutors alleged he drove the car to pick up the boys prior to becoming a passenger.

Martinez is due to appear in court on Nov. 16.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for Olivas and his family. The page has raised nearly $11,000, as of Thursday morning.