Edhat Staff
Photos: Santa Barbara County Fire Department
By edhat staff
Santa Barbara County firefighters responded to a single-vehicle collision that caught fire near the Gaviota Tunnel on Wednesday evening.
At 6:45 p.m., firefighters, California Highway Patrol (CHP), CalStar helicopter, and an ambulance responded to the scene a 1/2 mile north of the tunnel on Highway 101 northbound.
The vehicle had crashed into the center guardrail and was on fire. The driver was alone in the vehicle and self extricated with minor injuries.
Firefighters extinguished the vehicle fire as CHP temporarily closed a northbound lane in the area. All lanes are currently open.
CHP is investigating the cause of this incident.
I’m not surprised. The road is really curvy just north of the tunnel and requires slowing down a bit to navigate it safely. It’s hard if someone’s right on your tail, too, which isn’t uncommon. I’m surprised there aren’t more accidents in that section.
Please do not “ignore the dummy behind you.” California law requires that “Slower Traffic Keep Right” and that is reflected on the numerous regulatory signs posted in the median. When you are not in the process of passing or making a left turn, you should merge right. This allows faster traffic to pass and reduces congestion. Do not drive slowly in the left lane or ignore other traffic. You will force people to pass you on the right, increase congestion, and contribute to causing accidents.
Isn’t this the third single vehicle accident on that stretch of 101 this week?!
Ignore the dummy behind you – “It’s hard if someone’s right on your tail”
Watch where you’re going and maintain a safe speed.
I think the full graphic photos of these accidents and injuries should be widely distributed. When I was a kid my dad had “Highway Patrol” magazines out for his teenage children to thumb through because there was always a large section that had many disgusting photos of accidents and the carnage, and explanations of how/why it happened. My siblings and I are now middle age, but none of us every got in an accident (knock on wood) and we are all avid drivers. Scared straight and it worked. It educated us. People need to SEE the results of what inattention to your circumstances (speed, weather, road conditions, proximity to others) does. Bring on the photos!
I’m hate to let you down tadges but not every single event that happens is published on Edhat or the news.
No, unless you know something other than what’s been reported here and other local news there has been only 1 other accident of any kind on the 101 between Santa Barbara and Buellton in over a month and it was nowhere near this one.