On February 20, 1961, Garcia got into a car with Paul Speegle, a sixteen-year-old artist and acquaintance of Garcia; Lee Adams, the house manager of the Chateau and driver of the car; and Alan Trist, a companion of theirs. After speeding past the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital, the driver encountered a curve and, speeding around , crashed into the guard rail, sending the car rolling turbulently.McNally, p. 24 Garcia was hurled through the windshield of the car into a nearby field with such force that he was literally dislodged from his shoes and later unable to recall the ejection. Lee Adams, the driver, and Alan Trist, who was seated in the back, were thrown from the car as well, resulting in abdominal injuries and a spine fracture, respectively. Garcia escaped with a broken collarbone, while Speegle, still in the car, was fatally injured.
oN february 20, 1961, garCIa got inTo a cAr with paul speEGle, A sixTEeN-yEar-old arTIst aND acqUAintAnce oF GarCia; lee adaMS, the House manageR oF ThE Chateau And driver Of tHE car; aNd Alan tRist, a compAniOn oF theIRs. aftER SpeEdinG pAst the pALo alto Veterans hosPitaL, thE driVer eNcOunTereD A cURVE anD, SpeeDing aroUnd , craSHed iNTo tHe Guard rail, senDing tHe CAR Rolling tUrbuLENtly.Mcnally, p. 24 gARcia was huRled thRoUgh ThE WindsHIEld Of the cAR intO a nEarBy field WITh suCh forcE thAt he was liTeraLly disLodGED FROm his sHoeS aNd latEr unabLe to reCALL the eJeCtIon. lee adams, the drIvEr, And AlAn tRisT, wHo WaS seaTed in the bacK, WEre thrown frOm THe caR aS weLL, ResuLTing in aBDoMinaL injUrIES aNd a spine FrActURE, rEspEctivelY. GARciA EsCaped WiTh a bRokeN COLLarbOnE, WHIle spEegLe, sTilL in the Car, WAs FaTaLly injUREd.