Sad news coming down the transom today as we learn that DJ Matthew Africa — UC Berkeley and Berkeley High alum; former KALX staffer; unbridled, unconditional music lover; absolute beast on the turntables/computer; and unbelievably nice guy — died in a car crash driving back from Yosemite last weekend. Per the Patterson Irrigator, via Ian Port at SF Weekly:

Africa was heading northbound in his 2001 Volkswagen Beetle on Highway 33 just north of West Stanislaus Road at about 2:45 p.m. Sunday when he veered off the road for unknown reasons, according to a CHP report. His Beetle hit shoulder gravel, steered back onto the highway and spun in a clockwise direction and into the southbound lane before striking a 2000 Peterbilt driven by Hector Alvarez, 23, of Newman, according to the CHP. Africa was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries while his passenger, Ha Le Cow, 38, of Berkeley was taken by air ambulance to Doctors Medical Center for treatment of what was described as major injuries.

Condolences and memories are pouring in on Africa's Facebook page right now, though we haven't heard anything about a memorial service. In the meantime, though, Africa was scheduled to play his regular first-Thursdays gig at The Layover tonight; friend and fellow local DJ Wille Maze will be spinning in his memory tonight and asks, via Facebook, that friends and fans "Come thru raise a glass & celebrate the life of a wonderful human being, a dope DJ & an even better friend."