Fatal Traffic Collision Involving Semi-Truck Trailer Near Santa Maria

One person has died in a traffic collision involving the trailer of a semi-truck near Santa Maria on Wednesday.

Just before 6:00 p.m., Santa Barbara County firefighters responded to the area of Black Road and Highway 1 for a reported collision.

When crews arrived they determined the driver of a Ford sedan had collided with a detached semi-truck trailer that was parked on the side of the road. The sedan was almost completely underneath the trailer.

Fatal traffic collision near Highway 1 and Black Road in Santa Maria (Photo: Santa Barbara County Fire Department)

An unidentified male, and only occupant in the sedan, was pronounced dead at the scene. The trailer was not occupied.

Heavy extrication was required to retrieve the victim. A local tow-truck company deployed its heavy wrecker vehicle to lift the semi-trailer from sedan.

Highway 1 was closed in both directions for a period of time.

The collision is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.