Edhat Staff
A vehicle veered off Highway 101 and crashed north of Highway 154 near Woodchopper Hill, around 12:32 p.m. Monday.
Woodchopper Hill is the wooded stretch of Highway 101 between Alisos Canyon Road and Highway 154 south of Los Alamos.
The accident, which involved a single vehicle plunging approximately 75 feet off the roadside, led to the loss of one life and left another individual with major injuries.
Kathleen Palmer, 76 of Santa Maria, was driving a 2016 Audi with Doug Palmer, 74 of Santa Maria, as the passenger.
For unknown reasons, the vehicle traveled off the east roadway edge, down the dirt embankment, overturning and coming to rest at the bottom of the embankment, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
Kathleen Palmer was airlifted to Dignity Health – Marian Regional Medical Center with major injuries by a Calstar helicopter; Doug Palmer was pronounced deceased at the scene, reports CHP.
There were no other patients reported involved in the incident and Highway 101 has remained open.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is now spearheading the investigation into the circumstances that led to the vehicle’s departure from the roadway and subsequent crash.
The cause of this crash is being investigated by Officer J. Asmussen, ID 18483. If you have any information regarding this crash, please contact the CHP Buellton Area at (805) 691-6160.
