SBPDPIO
Update by the Santa Barbara Police Department
December 13, 2021
Source: Santa Barbara Police Department
December 11, 2021
On December 11, 2021, just after midnight, the Santa Barbara Police Combined Communication Center received a report of a serious traffic collision involving a single vehicle that collided with a large palm tree in the 700 block of Shoreline Drive. Multiple Officers, Harbor Patrol Officers, Fire Department personnel, and AMR Paramedics responded to the scene.
A silver Toyota pick-up truck appeared to have veered off the roadway striking the tree. The driver of the vehicle was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision and had to be extricated by Santa Barbara City Fire Department utilizing specialized equipment. The driver of the vehicle and a passenger were transported by ambulance to Cottage Hospital Emergency Room for medical treatment. The passenger of the vehicle was wearing a seatbelt and suffered severe injuries.
Approximately three hours after the collision, the 27-year-old male driver died, succumbing to his injuries sustained during the accident.
The Critical Accident Reconstruction Team responded to the scene to investigate this fatal collision further. The exact cause of the collision is unknown at this time. It is not known if alcohol or drugs played any role.
The name of the deceased male driver is being withheld pending notification of family. There is no other information available for release currently.
Photo by Scanner Andrew
Avoidable tragedy, seems like.
Were you there, and do you know what happened? Pure speculation on your part, which is not exactly salve for the grieving. I’m so sorry for the loved ones of this young person.
Perhaps avoidable by wearing a seat belt. My condolences to the family, always seems more tragic near the holidays.
Hey Seabird- “The truck didn’t run into the tree” as reported, the DRIVER drove into the tree… I am just thankful the DRIVER didn’t kill another motorist or pedestrian. Yeah- It WAS AVOIDABLE…. last I checked cars and Toyota pickups don’t drive themselves into trees… Unfortunately, bad decisions have bad consequences. He paid the ultimate price for personal responsibility- RIP I hope the injured passenger recovers, Unfortunately, she too paid the price for the drivers bad decisions.
I don’t see what’s confusing about simply not knowing the answer yet.
35MPH posted… obvious that was not being followed. No mention of DUI?
He must have been going pretty fast, certainly over the 25 MPH speed limit, to cause that amount of damage.
I dont see where it said intentional anywhere.
why does this site thrive on assumptions. especially about things they really would not know anything about unless they were there.
if you clip a curb, and arent holding the wheel. you will be “veered” in directions you dont want. accidents are sometimes…….. ACCIDENTS
Anyone who drives around without wearing a seat belt is asking for trouble. And no one just drives into a tree without something being seriously wrong with them.