The Goleta community is grieving the loss of Jennifer Lynn Bradshaw, a 42-year-old resident and well-loved Chili’s bartender, who was struck and killed by a car while walking home from work in the early morning hours of June 29. The incident occurred on the 7300 block of Calle Real when a vehicle driven by 68-year-old Jeselyn Invina veered off the road.
“She was always caring, full of stories, and a great listener. Her light uplifted and inspired countless people in her community, reminding them of their worth, strength, and potential. Her courage, kindness, and determination touched the lives of everyone she met,” her loved ones stated on GoFundme.
Bradshaw, described as an avid walker, was reportedly walking home just after midnight when Invina’s car reportedly swerved due to the glare of oncoming headlights, according to Raquel Zick, public information officer for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle struck Bradshaw before coming to rest in a nearby field.
Sheriff’s deputies attempted to administer lifesaving measures upon arriving at the scene, but Bradshaw was pronounced dead shortly afterward. The driver was reportedly unaware she had hit a pedestrian until informed by deputies at the scene. Drugs and alcohol are not believed to have played a role in the collision, although the investigation remains ongoing.
Bradshaw leaves behind her fiancé, Ian, and her sister, Heather, who were deeply touched by the outpouring of support following the tragedy. The family’s GoFundMe campaign, intended to cover funeral and memorial costs, had raised nearly $23,000 at the time of publication.
Bradshaw’s family hopes to honor her memory by celebrating the warm, encouraging presence she brought to so many. “Anyone who knew Jen knew her love for walking,” they wrote, highlighting the passion that tragically intersected with her untimely passing.
Authorities encourage anyone with additional information about the collision to contact the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office as the investigation continues.
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https://www.edhat.com/news/pedestrian-killed-in-vehicle-collision-on-calle-real-in-goleta/
How is no one questioning the driver’s story? I’m sorry, but not knowing you hit a person? Swerving because of bright headlights? Who does that? If you are blinded, you don’t go swerving, unless they’re in your lane, you keep straight. Has she never driven at night before?
Again, sorry, but I don’t buy it. Jennifer was a great person in our community and there needs to be more than just “oops I swerved because of bright lights.”
Rest in Peace. I’m so sorry this happened. She will be greatly missed.
It is a tragedy and you’re right to ask, “who does that” and not accept this as an “oops”. Many older people’s eyes are over-sensitive to light. Could sudden lights (curve? hill?) have blinded her and she swerved as a reflex? Seniors often avoid driving at night if they have friends who still drive. Not everyone has that option: The older a woman is, the more likely she is to be a widow with dead or incapacitated friends, and distant relatives. Current brighter headlights, maybe misaimed, might be a contributing factor, too. Could’ve she have been off road in a second, bumping along rough ground, panicked, not thinking well? The general population is aging, and isolation makes mental decline worse, so socializing is important but makes this kind of tragedy more likely. You have a logical mind. Any doable ideas that would change this circumstance, especially for those less fortunate financially?
I think older people drive when they shouldn’t b/c they have to. For many, using existing pay-fo-service possibilities is not a sustainable option on a daily basis b/c inflation has hit that community especially hard: $20 would feed a couple for a week in the 1960s, so if they put away $20 at the artifical interest rates generated by banks, it’s worth about $2 in buying power now. The choice is being a recluse or driving later in life than is safe.
RIP young lady.