Vehicle Over the Side of Ballard Canyon

A traffic accident left one man pinned underneath a vehicle near Solvang on Thursday afternoon.

At 4:21 p.m., Santa Barbara County firefighters responded with California Highway Patrol, AMR ambulance, and a CalStar helicopter to the 500 block of Ballard Canyon between Los Olivos and Solvang, said Fire Captain Dave Zaniboni.

A vehicle was found 50 feet over the side of the roadway. Three people were inside the vehicle, but two passengers were uninjured and able to self-extricate. A third passenger was found pinned beneath the vehicle and complaining of major injuries. 

A rope system and airbags were used to stabilize the vehicle, as well as a tow truck to help remove the vehicle from the man trapped underneath. After extrication was completed, the passenger was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital by a CalStar helicopter. 

California Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of this incident.

(Photos: SBCFD)