Man Identified in Fatal Highway 246 Traffic Collision

Authorities have released the identity of the man who died in a head-on traffic collision near Mission and Alamo Pintado Streets last week.

California Highway Patrol (CHP) stated 42-year-old Antonio Ramirez, Jr. of Santa Barbara was pronounced dead at the scene. Ramirez was driving a Ford C-Max eastbound when for unknown reasons he veered into the westbound lane and crashed head-on with a Ford F-350 truck driven by Steven Holmlund of Santa Ynez.

Extensive extrication was required to retrieve Ramirez from the vehicle as it sustained major damage. Holmlund sustained minor injuries and was transported to the hospital for treatment.

CHP believes drugs or alcohol may be contributing factors but that has yet to be determined.

Highway 246 was closed in both directions for an unknown amount of time.

Highway 246 is closed following a head-on traffic collision near Mission and Alamo Pintado Streets.

At 9:12 a.m. Friday, Santa Barbara County firefighters and a ground ambulance responded to the collision near Solvang. They discovered a truck and a sedan collided head-on with significant damage.

Two people were injured and required extensive extrication. One person was determined to be dead on arrival and the other sustained minor injuries. 

California Highway Patrol (CHP) has closed Highway 246 at Alamo Pintado Road in Solvang. Highway 101 and Highway 154 remains open for travelers with a local detour in place. It is not known when Highway 246 near Alamo Pintado Road will re-open.

CHP is investigating the cause of the collision.