Edhat Staff
Update by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
2:00 p.m., July 20, 2021
The Coroner’s Bureau is releasing the names of the decedents from the vehicle accident on 7/15/21 on Hwy 101 at El Capitan Ranch. The decedents are 52-year-old Maria Sanchez De Bautista and 20-year-old Yazmin Bautista Sanchez, both from Santa Maria.
Update by the California Highway Patrol
4:00 p.m., July 15, 2021
On July 15, 2021, at approximately 7:55 A.M., a fatal traffic collision involving six vehicles occurred on U.S. 101, south of El Capitan State Beach. The collision occurred when the driver of a Ford Expedition traveling northbound lost control and moved to the left across the #1 lane, through the median, and into the southbound lanes. Two occupants were pronounced deceased at the scene and four other people involved in the collision were transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital with injuries.
Prior to the collision, the Expedition was traveling at a speed of approximately 70 miles per hour within the #2 lane. For reasons unknown to investigators at this time, the driver lost control of the Expedition and drove it to the left upon the roadway. The Expedition crossed into the #1 lane and collided with the right front of a Ford F-450 which was traveling to the left of the Expedition within the #1 lane. The Expedition continued to the left across the #1 northbound lane, through the median that separates the northbound lanes from the southbound lanes, and headed directly for the southbound lanes. At this time there were multiple vehicles approaching the location traveling southbound within both the #1 and #2 southbound lanes. The Expedition was propelled into the air as it entered the southbound lanes. The Expedition collided with two vehicles which were traveling within the #1 lane, a Honda Accord and a Dodge Grand Caravan. The Expedition overturned onto its right side and continued to the left across the #1 lane and into the #2 lane. A Chevy Bolt, followed by a Toyota Tundra, were both approaching the location traveling southbound within the #2 lane. The drivers of both the Chevy Bolt and the Toyota Tundra swerved to the right in attempts to avoid the collision. The Expedition collided with the Chevy within the #2 lane. Debris from the collision struck the Toyota causing damage to the truck. The Expedition came to rest disabled on its right side, facing in a southerly direction, partially blocking the #2 lane. The Dodge came to rest disabled on all four of its tires, facing in a south easterly direction, blocking the southbound lanes.
Two female passengers in the Expedition sustained major injuries as a result of the collision and were pronounced deceased at the scene by American Medical Response (A.M.R.) personnel. The other three occupants of the Expedition, including the driver, also sustained injuries as a result of this collision; all three were transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, two of them with major injuries. The driver of the Dodge Caravan was also transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital with major injuries. Additionally, all three occupants of the Honda Accord were treated for minor injuries at the scene.
This collision is still under investigation. The California Highway Patrol was assisted in this collision investigation by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, and American Medical Response (A.M.R.).
Update by Caltrans
1:00 p.m., July 15, 2021
As of 12:55 p.m. Thursday, the southbound lanes of Highway 101 near El Capitan State Beach are now open.
Update by edhat staff
9:00 a.m., July 15, 2021
A double fatal traffic collision has closed the southbound lanes of Highway 101 near El Capitan State Beach Thursday morning.
Emergency responders arrived south of El Capitan Road at 7:59 a.m. and discovered a two-vehicle collision between a Ford Expedition SUV and Dodge Grand Caravan.
Extensive extrication was required to reach the occupants of each vehicle.
Two people were pronounced dead on the scene and four others sustained critical injuries. The four patients were taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
The southbound lanes are current closed with no estimated time for reopening.
California Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of this collision.
Photo: SBCFD
Source: Caltrans
Date/Time: Thursday July 15, 2021 at 8:55 AM
Location: Southbound US Highway 101 near El Capitan State Beach in Santa Barbara County.
Description of Incident: The southbound lanes of US 101 are closed near El Capitan State Beach due to an incident involving several vehicles.
Estimated Time of Opening: There is no estimate for re-opening. A detour is available on Highway 154 and 246.
CHP Traffic Incident Information Page: http://cad.chp.ca.gov
Why are we paying the CHP when they are not patrolling the highways. In fact one rarely even sees them on the highway any longer. Recent trip in this stretch – saw 90mph and lots of weaving in and out with tailgating was pretty typical, and scary. Where was the CHP?
The weaving is a result of the CHP’s failure to enforce the law requiring slower traffic to keep right. There are black on white signs posted at regular intervals along the freeway that say “Slower Traffic Keep Right” but due to the lack of enforcement most people don’t even realize these signs exist let alone understand what they mean. I would estimate a majority of motorists now cruise in the left lane. As a result, the right lane has become the de-facto passing lane punctuated by slow trucks and entrance ramps. The result is the drive on the left, pass on the right weaving that so many complain about. Enforcing the keep right law would do far more good than enforcing the speed limit. We really need to raise awareness and educate motorists, and an enforcement campaign would go a long way towards eliminating the weaving and making our freeways safer.
It amuses me to see those nice cars using the right lane to pass because that lane can be really messed up due to truck traffic. Probably isn’t doing any good for their low profile tires and firm suspensions……
Achooo, the law specifically requires “slower traffic keep right.” There is no exception if you are traveling 65, or 85 for that matter. Unless you are in the process of passing someone, you should be driving in the right lane. This does require you to be active and engaged as you drive. If you prefer not to change lanes often, then simply slow down and keep right. If you cruise in the left lane, you will cause faster traffic to weave around you and pass on the right.
PITMIX – Teslas are all electric, and they’re faster, and can accelerate better than most cars on the road. So… What’s your point?
Achooo, the guy cruising in the left lane at 73 in a 65 zone should still move to the right if someone is approaching quickly from behind or tailgating. Its not his job to enforce the speed of other drivers, and trying to do so causes the dangerous right lane passing. If you’re in the left lane, and not moving at a faster speed than those in the right lanes you shouldn’t be in the left lane. Left lane should be used for passing slower moving traffic.
Need some big bro cameras, license plate readers, and automatic tickets for +10 mph over speed limit. Other countries (e.g. Australia) do this, even in remote locations like Tasmania.
No new bad driving habits here. Same old bad drivers on the road as always, only now people are stressed out going back to work and have forgotten how to drive safely/normally around heavy traffic.
We suck as drivers in this country. In every other country you stay in the right (or yea if it’s opposite side left) lane except to pass. Here we randomly pick a lane and pick whatever speed we want. We employ the same nutty/crazy/bad driving on 154 as well. It’s bad and (too often) tragic.
You pass on the left… and then get back in the right lane. For some bizarre reason we’ve decided you can just choose a lane and stay in it, no matter what speed you travel. Pass on the left and then get back in the right lane!!!!
everything you people are wanking about (slower cars to the right, letting cars pass, weaving, driving in Europe… has nothing to do with this crash
People died and all that is said is nonsense. RIP
If the speed limits top out at 75 mph, why are they making cars that can go 150 mph? Just another thing that crazy humans do, I guess. Like the excessive consumption of fossil fuel is a good idea to start with….
Maybe we need a great depression with extensive suffering to teach us to conserve? We might get one…..
Coastwatch…..you’re an embarrassment to nature.
Sounds like (from better written Noozhawk article) the SM driver (man) who caused this carnage is still alive.
OGSB, Republicons increased the deficit which will lead to a recession. They create the mess, and Biden has to clean it up. Why are Dems the only adults in the room?