Julian Fraire, 16, a Steele Canyon High School student, killed, the other 36-year-old driver injured, taken to hospital, after a head-on crash on Steele Canyon Road in Rancho San Diego.

A 16-year-old Steele Canyon High School junior died in a head-on collision on his way to school Thursday, after getting into a minor crash about 24 hours earlier.

Julian Fraire of El Cajon, who got his provisional driving license in September, veered into oncoming traffic on Steele Canyon Road in Rancho San Diego about 7:25 a.m., authorities said.

The teen was driving a Chrysler Town and Country minivan southbound when he collided with a northbound Ford F450 pickup north of Vista Cielo Drive, California Highway Patrol Officer Kevin Pearlstein said.

The demolished minivan was knocked onto an embankment, into some bushes. Firefighters had to cut apart the wreckage to get the teenager out, but he did not survive, said Cal Fire Capt. Kendal Bortisser. It wasn’t clear why Julian drifted out of his lane, but he “had some sort of inattention,” Pearlstein said.

He said investigators would check the teen’s cellphone to see if he was using it right before the crash.

Both drivers were going normal speeds and the roadway was straight in the area, Pearlstein said.

Paramedics took the other driver, a 36-year-old Jamul man, to a hospital by ambulance for treatment of minor injuries.

Steele Canyon Road was shut down between Via Caliente del Sol and Old California Way for four hours.

Pearlstein said Julian was involved in another crash while headed to school on Wednesday

Julian, driving a Volkswagen GTI, suffered a minor injury when he hit the back of another car in heavy traffic on eastbound state Route 94 near Millar Ranch Road.

There was a separate rear-end type collision between two other vehicles in the same area about the same time, Pearlstein said.

He said three juveniles suffered minor injuries in one of the crashes, and a single juvenile was hurt in the other crash. Pearlstein wasn’t sure which crash Julian was in.

Several people took to social media to express condolences over Julian’s death. One person posted on Twitter, “a Steele Canyon student gone too soon.”

Sofia posted, “Julian Fraire, you’re in a place where there is no cruelty, corruption or violence. I pray that God brings peace to your loved ones.”

Eileen Poole, principal at Steele Canyon High, issued a statement saying extra grief counselors were brought in to assist students and staff.

“Our hearts go out to his family and friends,” Poole said.