Highway 154 closed in both directions due to a fatal head on traffic collision early Tuesday morning.
At 5:21 a.m., California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported a collision took place at Highway 154 eastbound and Stagecoach Road involving a sedan and SUV.
Santa Barbara County and Santa Barbara City Fire Departments joined CHP in their response. The collision caused significant injuries and roadway obstruction, requiring a full highway closure, County Fire Captain Scott Safechuck stated.
In the sedan there were two occupants, a male driver and a male passenger. The driver sustained moderate injuries and was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital by a ground ambulance.
The passenger sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. His identity has not been released.
In the SUV there was a solo male driver who sustained minor injuries. He was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital by a ground ambulance.
Highway 154 closed in the eastbound direction at the State Route 154/246 Roundabout and in the westbound direction at Paradise Road. At 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, CHP reported all lanes of Highway 154 reopened.
No further details have been released at this time. CHP is investigating the cause of this collision.
[Ed Note: This article has been updated with new information provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.]
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Just awful. I’m so sorry.
Don’t drive 154, if you can avoid doing so. What used to be a nice easy, pleasant and scenic drive has become a deathtrap. Heartfelt condolences to those who knew and loved the man who was killed. RIP.
Agreed. Unless I’m going to Paradise Rd for some camping/fishing or Cold Spring Tavern, I will always take the 101. Even to get to Cachuma, I’ll take a longer drive on the 101 for a short drive on the 154 to avoid the danger. That road was not meant for the type of drivers and traffic volume it now has. There are virtually zero police patrols along that road. A heavy police presence could save lives. Lots of ways to make the road safer but until they do, I’d rather take longer to arrive safely and without stress.
There are just way too many “highway drivers” including big trucks that don’t need to be on the 154. And they, the individual drivers, whether they’re driving regulars cars too fast for that road or trucks going way too slow and holding up traffic. It’s not a law enforcement issue at all, it’s a dumb driver making dumb choices issue. Always has been. It’s not a regular freeway. It’s a mountain road. Some drivers simply don’t get that.
Another one, condolences to the family. I gave up the 154 after one too many close calls, suicidal millenials passing on blind curves, the people who just have to let you know they’re in a hurry by bumper******* you until you pull over and let them pass, and on and on. It’s not worth saving 20 minutes anymore.