Two Injured After Car Crashes 100 Feet Over Gibraltar Road

A vehicle crash occurred on Gibraltar Road near Flores Flats on Saturday afternoon, resulting in moderate injuries to an adult male and a significant rescue operation by local responders.

The incident unfolded around 3:13 pm when a vehicle was reported to have veered off the road, tumbling approximately 100 feet over the side and landing on its roof in a creek below.

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department (SBC), along with Search and Rescue, Los Padres Forest, and the SBC Air Support Unit Copter 4, responded swiftly to the scene.

Upon arrival, first responders found that one of the two male occupants had managed to self-extricate from the wrecked vehicle. The second patient, however, suffered moderate injuries and required a more complex rescue. Northbound Gibraltar Road was temporarily shut down to allow the emergency teams to work on the extraction and ensure the safety of those involved.

Vehicle Over The Side Update: LPF on scene. Reporting party called 911 after witnessing vehicle go over the side. First patient (adult male) hoisted to Copt 4 , offloaded roadside to ambulance, and transported to Cottage Hospital. Second patient extricated from vehicle, then… pic.twitter.com/mPnUjBOZfJ

— Scott Safechuck (@SBCFireInfo) February 2, 2025

Firefighters were lowered down the hillside using a rope systems. Meanwhile, a Firefighter Paramedic was hoisted from Copter 4 to reach and stabilize the second patient. The injured individual was then carefully extricated from the wreckage and prepared for transport.

The first patient was successfully hoisted to Copter 4 and offloaded roadside into an ambulance. He was transported to Cottage Hospital for further medical attention. The second patient was also hoisted aboard the aircraft and flown directly to the hospital, accompanied by firefighter paramedics who attended to his injuries en route.

The reporting party, who witnessed the vehicle’s crash, provided valuable information to the rescue team by calling 911 immediately.

Law enforcement has taken over the investigation to determine the cause of the accident. The road has since been reopened. The identities of the involved parties have not been disclosed pending the ongoing investigation.