Anonymous
By the California Highway Patrol
On April 20, 2023, at approximately 11:01 P.M., a fatal crash occurred on Cathedral Oaks Road, west of North Kellog Avenue, within an unincorporated area of Santa Barbara County.
A white Ford pickup struck a tree on the right shoulder of westbound Cathedral Oaks Road. The California Highway Patrol (CHP), Santa Barbara County Fire Department (COFD), American Medical Response Ambulance Company (AMR), and Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office (SBSO) responded to the crash scene.
The driver, an 18 year old male, and one of two passengers, a 22 year old male, sustained major injuries including but not limited to multiple lacerations and severe burns to several areas of their bodies. They were transported by AMR to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital where they were treated for their injuries.
A second passenger, a 22 year old male, sustained fatal injuries and succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Cathedral Oaks Road was closed for approximately 11 hours during the investigation.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is requested to contact the California Highway Patrol, Santa Barbara Area, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M., at (805) 967-1234. Information regarding the victim can be obtained through the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Coroner Office.
Update by Geo Duarte
A tree that was struck on the northbound side of cathedral oaks on Thursday night was removed Friday afternoon as it had become a liability to the County of Santa Barbara.
Cathedral oaks road will remain closed till the completion of the tree removal. From what it looks like, it appears it will reopen by 5 PM.
Photo by Geo Duarte
This is just awful. My deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased young man.
Horrible. That stretch between Kellogg and Cambridge desperately needs to be made one lane in each direction. It is a major speedway and this is not the first fatal accident to occur here in recent years!
It is awful but making it 1 lane is just creating a choke point. No guarantee that it would have prevented this accident.
So what then OOPS, do nothing because it “might” not prevent every accident? That is foolish.
Speed Humps, Speed Humps, Speed Humps!!!
Nah, there’s just too many curves on that stretch and the Speed Limit is too high for many drivers to negotiate the curves comfortably. Bulldoze the entire stretch and straighten Cathedral Oaks. Just keeping it simple.
I am being honest…I’m not sure if speed humps save drunk drivers. I certainly don’t want Cathedral Oaks made in to a one way street or lined with speed humps. But I fully support whatever we can do to prevent people from drinking then driving.
One way? Huh?
An Upper South Coast news outlet reported the driver had succumed. That was incorrect, the driver has been arrested. A man named, Daniel Velez Valerio has been arrested, he is suspected of Driving Under the Influence. It was 4/20/2023 aka 420, aka, Four-Twenty. Education is needed state-wide on this trend.
The “northbound side of Cathedral Oaks” is a misnomer. Cathedral Oaks runs east/west. “North side of Cathedral Oaks” would be correct.
The brilliant town fathers of Oldtown Goleta are closing that road to one lane each way. It is one of only roads east and west useable in emergencies. If Cathedral Oaks were to be similarly disabled–speed bumps, one lane, bump-outs–any of those move-responsibility-from-drivers moves–that would cut east-west connections to ONE. Anyone remember the fires we get here? Or flooding? Or slides? The answer isn’t nanny state, it’s make drivers responsible for their driving. If anything, bring back driver’s ed in high school so at least they not to risk life and limb.
Young Male drivers under the age of about 30 seemeed to have watched too many installments of the movie “Fast and Furious.” Every day somewhere in the U.S. there is, every year there are over 35,000 fatal accidents. Not saying they are all due to racing, speeding, or other negligence. Cliff Drive on the Mesa had many of the same issues. One lane in each direction may not work on Cathedral Oaks.
I beleive Speed “Humps” not speed bumps would work. UCSB had to put two sets on Lagoon Rd. because people would drive to the dead end and crash. They did this over 30 years ago. It works people dont run off the dead end anymore. Different situation, yet humps are effective, the County does not need the liability. The next time a resident of the area could be involved and take legal action agains the County.
Cutting down to one lane in each direction does not mean it can’t be more in an emergency situation.