Both were student-athletes at Liberty High in Brentwood, two others injured, including another Liberty student-athlete
UPDATES: No police chase prior to collision; third boy who survived, the driver from Brentwood, identified; online fundraisers for families of the two deceased and survivor’s recovery established
By Lt. Franco Cesar, Antioch Police Department
ANTIOCH, CA – The Antioch Police Department is deeply saddened to report a fatal traffic collision that occurred early Sunday morning, claiming two lives and leaving others injured.
On September 13, 2026, at 12:11 AM, APD Dispatch received a report of a major vehicle collision in the area of Deer Valley Road and Balfour Road. Officers arrived on scene at 12:21 AM and located two vehicles involved: a white BMW and a silver Infiniti.
Tragically, two occupants inside the Infiniti died at the scene. A third individual from the Infiniti sustained injuries and was promptly transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. The driver of the BMW also sustained injuries as a result of the collision. According to Sgt. Rob Green the two deceased were 17-year-old males from Discovery Bay. According to a report by The Press, they were “Liberty High School student-athletes” and one of the injured was another current Liberty student and athlete from the school.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under active investigation by the Antioch Police Department Traffic Unit. Out of respect for the families and loved ones involved, law enforcement is working to confirm the identity of one victim and complete next-of-kin notifications before releasing additional information.
UPDATE 1 (9/14/26): One of the two boys has been identified by his mother.In posts on her Facebook page and the Instagram account for her photography business Monday morning, Sept. 14th, Stephanie Starkenberg-Ferrari shared her son’s name, Dominic Anthony Starkenberg Ferrari, and his birthdate, March 21, 2009, along with his photo.
The victims of the fatal collision were Dominic Anthony Starkenberg Ferrari (left) and Caden Kyle (right). Sources: (left) Facebook and (right) AngeLink
UPDATE 2 (9/15/26): The other boy was identified in an online fundraiser on AngeLink, as Caden Kyle. That was organized by Lynne Mile on behalf of Chris Kyle and Shannon Boyle. As of Tuesday afternoon, $32,244 of $35,000 Goal had been contributed. In addition, a GoFundMe account has been set up to benefit Starkenberg Ferrari’s family, listed as Stephanie, Gino and Sophia. As of Tuesday evening, $39,548 of the $47,000 goal had been raised.
UPDATE 3 (9/15/26): Not a Police Chase
To dispel one of the rumors on social media that a police chase had occurred prior to the collision, Sgt. Green said, “It was not a police chase. The BMW involved, did flee from East Bay Regional Park Police a week before the crash. But there is no indication the driver of the BMW was the one who fled. That car was entered as a felony vehicle on the CHP log. That’s how that rumor started.”
Asked about the driver of the other vehicle with the three boys inside he said, “Neither of the boys who died was the driver. The boy who survived was.”
“That is all we have right now. We are just determining if there was any negligence involved,” Green added.
The third Discovery Bay boy who survived has been identified as James Harper. He was the driver of the car in which his two friends were passengers. Photo: GoFundMe
UPDATE 4 (9/16/26): Third Boy Identified, Online Fundraiser for His Recovery Established
The third boy involved in the fatal collision early Sunday morning, the driver of the Infiniti, has been identified as James Harper. He is from Brentwood according to Sgt. Green. A GoFundMe account has been established by Mateo Morrison to raise funds to support Harper’s recovery. It reads in part, “James is a Liberty student who plays soccer and is active in the FFA” (Future Farmers of America) and “has a long road to recovery in front of him.” As of Wednesday evening, $16,029 of the $20,000 goal had been raised.
As investigators work to piece together the events leading up to the collision, the Antioch Police Department asks anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who has surveillance or dashcam footage from the area around the time of the crash, to please come forward. If you have any information, please contact Sgt. Green of the Traffic Unit at (925) 779-6864. Anonymous tips may also be submitted directly to the department. Case No.: 26-8743.
Please check back later for any additional updates to this report.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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