Ajani Leona Everhart, 21, Killed in Two-Vehicle Crash Near Rio Vista, California

 Ajani Leona Everhart, 21, of Sacramento, California, died after a two-vehicle crash near Rio Vista on Sunday, September 27, 2026. According to information attributed to the California Highway Patrol, the collision happened at 5:30 a.m. on Highway 160 near Sherman Island Cross Road. Everhart was reportedly driving a black Kia Forte northbound when it crossed into the southbound lanes and collided with an oncoming white Ford F-250 pickup. She was the only person in the Kia and died in the crash.

Two people traveling in the Ford were transported to a hospital with injuries that were not specified in the available account. The circumstances of the collision remain under investigation, and it has not been established whether impairment was a factor. Investigators must determine how the vehicles came into conflict and what circumstances preceded the crash. Until that work is completed, information about the cause of the collision should be treated carefully rather than presented as settled fact.

For Everhart’s family and friends, however, the crash is only one part of the story. Those who knew her are remembering a young woman whose life extended far beyond the circumstances of her death. A former mentor and teacher described Everhart as an incredible woman and recalled meeting her when she was 15. The mentor said she watched Everhart grow into an amazing, caring, generous and big-hearted person, offering a personal picture of someone remembered for the way she treated others.

Everhart was also connected to the wider drum community, where she was remembered as an “OG Drummer.” That description reflects her identity and the relationships she built through drumming. Her death has therefore been felt across more than one circle of people. Family members, friends, mentors and fellow drummers are now left with memories of a young woman whose presence mattered to them and whose life ended unexpectedly.

The early-morning crash occurred on a highway route near Rio Vista, but its impact has reached back to Sacramento and beyond through the people who knew Everhart. Loved ones must also confront grief for many while many questions remain unanswered. In Everhart’s case, the investigation continues, while those mourning her are focused on remembering her character and the connections she formed. Keeping those two parts of the story separate allows the investigation to proceed without overshadowing the person being remembered.

Everhart’s mentor has also shared information about a GoFundMe campaign established to support the family. The request asks people who knew Everhart, or who were moved by her life, to help share the fundraiser. For a grieving family, community support can provide practical assistance while also showing that others recognize the depth of the loss. The campaign is part of the broader effort to surround Everhart’s loved ones with care as they face the days following her death.

Ajani Leona Everhart was 21 when her life ended in the September 27 crash. Her family, friends, mentors and fellow drummers are now carrying memories of someone described as caring, generous and big-hearted. The investigation into the collision remains ongoing, and important questions about what happened on Highway 160 have not been resolved. Whatever those findings ultimately establish, Everhart’s loved ones are mourning a young woman whose life touched many people and whose memory will remain with the communities she was part of.