Vehicle Rollover Sparks Fire and Shuts Down Highway 154
By the edhat staff
A rollover vehicle collision sparked a brush fire on Highway 154 at Paradise Road Thursday evening.
At 6:33 p.m., three Santa Barbara County Fire engines and a Battalion Chief responded to the area and discovered a vehicle fully engulfed in fire that had spread to nearby vegetation.
Crews stopped the forward progress of the 50 x 50 foot sized fire and rendered aid to a male patient with serious burn injuries.
The male was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital by ground ambulance in critical condition.
Captain Scott Safechuck reported the male driver was pulled from the vehicle by a female bystander, who was also transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
Highway 154 is closed in both directions. Caltrans does not have a time frame of reopening the roadway.
Vehicle Rollover Fire: HWY 154/Paradise Rd. Update: Single male occupant w/critical burns transported by ground to SBCH. He was pulled from vehicle by female bystander also transported for smoke inhalation. 50’x 50’ vegetation fire stopped. HWY 154 remains closed both directions. pic.twitter.com/AEvJZdheg7
— Scott Safechuck (@SBCFireInfo) November 18, 2022
11 Comments
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Dec 04, 2022 07:30 AMReading Noozhawk this morning, this was at the top:
https://www.noozhawk.com/article/motorists_brave_intense_flames_to_aid_trapped_driver_on_highway_154
So, I was really interested to attempt to find a picture of "David Rosales Medina" driver of the pickup truck as that name seemed familiar? Then I ran across another article on Noozhawk, even more depressing Sept.3 2015: https://www.noozhawk.com/article/pursuit_ends_in_ellwood_suspect_taken_to_hospital
I was hoping this was going be uplifting, but not so much as it turns out? I've got nothing, so sad!
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Nov 27, 2022 06:49 PMUpdate:
"Today
by Randal Jackson, Organizer
Hi everyone,
Thanks so much for your continuing, generous donations to help Rebecca. It has been deeply moving to see the community step up to help this courageous, compassionate, and beautiful person. You have truly made a difference.
Here's a quick update on Rebecca:
Two days ago, she had a high fever and laryngitis due to complications from smoke inhalation. I'm happy to report she is now feeling much better. She and Bella were able to spend a couple of nights in a local motel while she recovered.
A local dealership saw her story in the Independent and has offered to repair and perform maintenance work on her car. Others have come forward with potential opportunities for employment.
Again, thank you all.
Randy and Liz
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Nov 27, 2022 09:30 PMThank you Randy & Liz...
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Nov 27, 2022 07:35 PMThat Update is much appreciated. Thanks for posting this yin yang. Rebecca really deserves the support. The gofundme page says so far: "$18,041 raised of $5,000 goal".
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Nov 25, 2022 11:51 AMI urge the community to donate to this gofundme account for this remarkably brave woman who could use our help right now.
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Nov 25, 2022 08:38 AMRebecca Neal - the homeless local woman that saved the driver is beening helped by Randal Jackson (who helped Rebecca with keeping her dog and vehicle while she was in the hospital for her injuries) setting up the gofundme page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/homeless-hero-in-santa-barbara?utm_medium=email&utm_source=product&utm_campaign=p_email%2B2300-co-team-welcome
From Noozhawk: https://www.independent.com/2022/11/23/homeless-woman-from-santa-barbara-rescues-driver-in-paradise-road-car-fire/
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Nov 25, 2022 10:01 AM"Neal had lived most of her life in Santa Barbara — attending Roosevelt Elementary, Santa Barbara Junior High and High School, and graduating from UCSB before starting her own business up north — but recently found herself losing friends, family, and work in rapid succession, eventually ending up in the streets, living in her car."
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Nov 25, 2022 10:00 AMThanks! Wow. No wonder I missed this, it's in the Indie, which I don't look at as often. Thanks for posting this! Please read the article! She's living in her car with her dog.
Next stop:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/homeless-hero-in-santa-barbara?utm_medium=email&utm_source=product&utm_campaign=p_email%2B2300-co-team-welcome
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Nov 18, 2022 07:39 PMTruly heroic, so admirable. And so terrible for the victim, my hopes are with him.
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Nov 18, 2022 07:47 AMHeroic lady, for sure.
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Nov 17, 2022 09:15 PMWhat a brave woman to risk her own safety to try and save a life. I hope he can survive his wounds.