Two die in Saturday accident
updated: Nov 08, 2009, 1:54 PM

Source: CHP

At approximately 0117 hours, an on duty Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Sergeant was traveling southbound on US-101, in the area of Fairview Ave., when she encountered a vehicle driving the wrong way, northbound in the southbound lanes. She swerved to avoid a collision and notified her dispatch of the situation. Other Sheriff personnel in the area were advised and began responding. CHP dispatch was advised and CHP units began responding as well. Less than two minutes later, a deputy entered US-101 southbound from Glen Annie/Storke Rd. and observed the wrong-way vehicle approaching his location. There were two vehicles between the deputy and the oncoming vehicle. (It was later determined that the vehicles were traveling together, on their way back to Goleta from Lompoc.) When the deputy activated his emergency lights, the driver of the first vehicle observed the lights behind him and swerved right, narrowly avoiding the oncoming vehicle, which he did not see. Seconds later, the deputy witnessed the wrong way vehicle strike the second southbound vehicle head on. Following the collision, the wrong way vehicle (A Mitsubishi Montero) came to rest in the center divide with the driver trapped. The other vehicle (A Honda Accord) came to rest facing southbound in the #2 traffic lane, with the four occupants trapped inside. The uninvolved vehicle that had swerved and missed the Mitsubishi, pulled right and stopped on the right shoulder.

The right front passenger of the Honda succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene by Santa Barbara County Fire Personnel. The other three occupants of the Honda were transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital by AMR, as was the driver of the Mitsubishi. The driver of the Honda succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter. The two passengers, who had been seated in the rear of the Honda, sustained severe injuries and were admitted into Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for care. The parents of the Honda’s driver and the two rear passengers in the Honda were in the initial vehicle that swerved to avoid the wrong way driver.

It was determined that the driver of the Mitsubishi was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident and he was arrested for 23153(a/b) VC and 191.5 PC. He is currently being treated for his injuries and will be booked at the Santa Barbara County Jail once he has been medically cleared.

The involved parties were identified as: No. 1, Richard Rodriguez of Tustin, age 20, driving the Mitsubishi. Suffered abrasions.

Vehicle No. 2, four people in vehicle, including Marcos Arredondo, 18, of Goleta; deceased, Macrina Ocampo, 58, Goleta, deceased; and two unidentified juveniles, ages 15 and 16, with traumatic head injuries.

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