A single-vehicle crash on southbound Highway 101 north of Highway 154, between Los Alamos and Los Olivos, left three people hospitalized on Saturday, January 3, 2026.
Around 10:15 a.m., emergency personnel received a call about a vehicle collision and fire, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
Officials state a white Tesla struck a tree off Highway 101 and caught fire in the center divider. When fire crews arrived, the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames.
Fire officials said three occupants were extricated from the vehicle and transported by AMR ground ambulance to Marian Regional Medical Center. One patient suffered critical injuries; two others had mild to moderate injuries.
The California Highway Patrol stated southbound Highway 101 traffic is being controlled down to one lane, with a traffic break in place just south of Alisos Canyon.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. Authorities did not immediately release additional details.
Flash Flood Warning Issued and Part of Highway 101 Closed in Santa Barbara County
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a “Flash Flood Warning” for portions of Santa Barbara County as Caltrans shuts down a section of Highway 101 near Goleta on Saturday morning, January 3, 2026, edhat previously reported.
Flash Flood Warnings extend from Point Conception to Carpinteria with the most recent alert ending at 2:00 p.m. Saturday.
Additionally, Caltrans shut down Highway 101 in both directions north of Goleta on Saturday morning due to a series of mudslides. Highway 101 southbound is shut down at Highway 1 near Buellton and northbound at Winchester Canyon in Goleta.
Caltrans states that southbound travelers are being directed off at the junction with Highway 1 north of Gaviota and re-routed to Highway 154. Northbound travelers are being directed off Highway 101 at Winchester Canyon and also re-routed to Highway 154.
Caltrans crews are on site and there is no estimated time for reopening.
In Santa Barbara’s North County, Caltrans, also reported that Highway 1 near Orcutt is closed in both directions due to flooding between Solomon Road and Black Road. There is no estimate for reopening.
In the City of Santa Barbara, the Police Department issued the following advisory to avoid the below intersections due to flooding:
- San Andres @ Canon Perdido Street
- 00 Calle Cesar Chavez Street
- Shoreline Drive between Castillo and Loma Alta
If the Tesla didn’t hit the tree, it wouldn’t have caught on fire
And if a gasser catches fire, it’s not newsworthy.
Kind of funny how for the purposes of headlines, Tesla is a unique type of vehicle, like ‘car hits tree’, or ‘truck hits tree’. You’ll never see ‘Ford (Toyota, Hyundai, Chevy, Chrysler, etc) hits tree’. Not sure why that is.
Literally the smartest thing I’ve ever heard anyone say.
If my grandfather didn’t have testicles, he would have been my grandmother.
We don’t know the cause and you assume a lot. Could have already been on fire and that was the cause of the crash.
Fantasyland, as usual.
We drove by this accident, I’m sending love to all involved. There was a dog, a German Shepard, who also appeared to be in the accident. Are they ok? Did someone get them too?
Hazmat time
But not as much as for spilled petroleum products, or their combustion by-products.
Yes, BASIC, any time a car catches fire and spills toxic fuel and fluids, the hazmat team comes. What an astute observation. 🤦♂️🙄
sacjon….No, Haz Mat will not ‘automatically’ respond, only if requested, and/or it’s something rather large or significant, that poses a major threat to people, property or the environment. (Retired FF, 25 years)
And yeah, the blanket, Mr. Obvious comments by BASIC do warrant a response! LoL
Ah good to know! So, whether a Tesla or a diesel F150, hazmat becomes an issue in certain circumstances.
Tax payers are subsidizing Elon Musk’s war on the environment.