Accident on 101 Kills One, Snarls Traffic

4 quick comments:
1. great coverage of the accident Independent. Thank you
2. it is still crazy out there. Its a mess on side streets and congested everywhere.
3. this is obviously a terrible terrible accident, and it remains to be seen why the driver was on the wrong side of the road for 10 minutes. Could be drugs, or alcohol related but we'll have to see what they find.
4. A quick thanks to all the service people involved. You are appreciated

thanks Indy, you are the ONLY ones with information on this! KEY TV sucks

Agree w/ the comments above..Thanks for coverage Indy!

Just got to work and really don't have anything good to say about the agencies that handled this accident though. If it supposedly happened around 6am...why was traffic still so bad hours later? It wasn't like a big rig crashed and blocked all lanes.
Couldn't they just clean up the mess, and move it over to the side without closing the whole damn freeway for hours?

Kinda like that one time where 1 guy with an unloaded revolver on the La Cumbre overpass also managed to shut down the freeway for 3 hours. Lame.

Thank you Indy for immediate coverage. Here in Baja, I am still in contact with what is happening in my home neighborhood..
Very tragic accident--so sorry for the victims. Keep us posted please.

Wow, how f-ed up do you have to be at 6 a.m. to drive the wrong way? Great PR for Verizon!

Not true KEYT was reporting the event as it happen on the 5:30 am news show.

They were warning people to stay off the highway.

@mickeyp: When there's a highway traffic fatality, I believe they're required to close down the entire freeway for a period of time. They also say it took over an hour just to get a person out of the vehicle. Someone died and a number of people were hurt. But, yeah, I'm so sorry you were late to work.

Yes, when there is a fatality accident some or all of the freeway may be shut down for investigation.

mickeyp---So short sighted....I'm sure you would feel different if it was one of your family members killed. I would want a complete investigation!

@RyanS:
Thanks for clearing that up.
The point I was trying to make was that it seems like overkill(complete shutdowns for HOURS)... the way they deal with these things. And no, I am not trying to downplay the seriousness of this incident.
But if you worked for a living you would probably see where the frustration is coming from. Thats all thank you.

Sometimes it just amazes me that people get upset when their regular commute is disturbed in any way. A person died, others were injured. Let the CHP do their job correctly and deal with the delay you face what, maybe twice a year?! I'm sure that if it was your loved one that was killed, you would want all the questions answered as to what caused this horrific incident. That takes time, and good investigative skills by law enforcement.

Deal with it, MickeyP!

Wow. Pretty sad that we've become so desensitized that we can think about being late for work when family members are grieving a permanent loss: and yes, it takes a bit more time to investigate a fatal accident. Photos of vehicle locations, skidmarks and landmarks have to be taken: as well as extricating bodies.

While I agree that inconvenience isn't a valid reason to question the shutdown, there is a very significant increased risk of accidents (especially with pedestrians) elsewhere in the city during a diversion like this. I don't think it is unreasonable to question whether it is worth it to expose a large number of people to an increased risk of collision in order to more fully investigate another collision. Obviously during the time in which the trapped driver was being extricated closure is fully justified. Just thinking out loud (or whatever the text equivalent is).

One should feel free to question how much time it takes but not at the expense of making this seem like some fender bender (and arrogantly implying that other commenters apparently don't work for a living....).

@SBLover
Wow, I said I agree that this was a tragic incident. Theres no argument there.
But can you justify how they shut down the freeway for HOURS, when that one guy with a revolver was on the Lacumbre overpass? With the whole SWAT team and their body-armor clad friends standing just a few feet away?

mickeyp - really, come on now. It takes time to investigate an accident of this magnitude. Measuring, clearing, interviewing witnesses, treating injuries and unfortunately in this case, the coroner had to be called in.

You don't come on to the scene of a 6 car collision and move everything to the side so we can get to work on time, this is the real world. We took a little longer to get to work this morning and I'm sure most of us are 1) thankful that we made it and 2) have employers that understand what occurred and are willing to compensate for time missed. Being on the road and having to deal with the morons honking, cursing, trying to cut you off is worse then dealing with the delays in traffic.

Where is the compassion? Somewhere out there someone's parent/spouse/sibling/cousin, is not coming home and all we can do is complain about a slight delay in traffic, wow, amazing.

Mickey, i agree with the others.. i have to say, i am appalled at what you are writing.. how about the safety of all the emergency crews that were out there.. they didnt want anymore accidents to happen.. to bad you are upset, but come one. how stupid can you be.. oops, an accident, get the broom and sweep all of it to the side so people like Mickey can drive by and make it to work.. this poor family dont have any father/mother coming home tonight AFTER THEIR JOB. When you get in an accident, we will make sure they rush the job so we all can drive by you and your damaged car. who cares if you were late for work. think of OTHERS.. they do this for safety for everyone.. that includes you.

The emergencie crews, police, etc go out everyday and protect all of us.. IT's THEIR JOB MICKEY. I rather wait in a big jam then be a victim. I would love to shake the hands of all the people that worked the site.. they did the best they could in a moment's notice. look in the mirror Mickey and others like him/'her.. there is a big world out there with lots of people who care.. maybe you can get off your high horse and care for the victims and thank the people that make us safe. sheesh

Also, the County Corner was on the scene at the 154 fatality near Buellton at the time of the accident. He/she had to wrap things up there and drive down to this accident. That was at least an hour delay. I don't think they can re-open things until the coroner signs off on things.

I think it's best as citizens to just expect that the 101 gets shut down like this about 4 times a year and to just prepare to deal with the traffic when it happens. It is the cost of living along this narrow slice of beauty with only one major route.

I actually agree with Mickey on the degree of time it takes to go through the process. Yes we as a society are that desensitized to violence and accidents. The amount of danger to our drivers and pedestrians is extreme when you have to use alternate routes for multiple hours. Not just that but in a city like SB these routes are not meant to hold this amount of traffic.

On the note of being desensitized to violence accidents or what ever else not. Think of the TV shows we as Americans watch nightly if you watch the box any more for that matter. News is nothing but the death toll for that given day in most major cities. If you watch the LA news. Even in lovely SB we get it too. Violence is every where in our society including our kids video games that many parents use as a baby sitting device.

Why dont the police and fire in this country do like that do in Europe and erect tarp barriers so that traffic and looky loos are kept at bay and life keeps moving. This would save a massive amount of time and danger.

Wow.. i agree Paul.. didnt know about the other scene. thanks for letting me know. What a sad day in the beautiful SB town. My prayers and thoughts are with all the families involved..

SO you are saying when something like this happens... they put up a tarp before traffic comes jammed up? Might need a crystal ball to be at the site so traffic doesnt get to crowded..takes time for the emergency crews get to the scene.. by then you are stuck in traffic. i think the barrier would good for the lookie loos on the other side of the freeway, etc.. but you cant control the traffic when this happens right away.. traffic is jammed

Years ago on Christmas eve day, my husband promised to come home early. But he did not. As he approached the Las Positas overpass, about seven cars away from it, he noticed a flying object and brake lights. He immediately swerved left into the iceplant. He watched all cars in front of him and three behind smash into each other.

The flying object was a tire that blew off a truck on the overpass and it smashed a windshield and killed the driver immediately. The truck driver was never aware of the accident for many years. His tire inventory was one short when he arrived in Arizona, but he never knew how or where he lost it.

Years later, in SB, he heard talk of the accident, and checked his journal which told where he was at the time of the acident. He went immediately to the authorities to report this. There were no charges, as I recall.

There were many "inconvenienced" on that Christmas Eve and the cleanup took a long while. Many were angry as the road became clogged and the looky-loos going south also stopped traffic. All involved had to be checked for injuries before leaving, even my husband who was sitting in the ice plant.

Sorting out a multiple accident, especially one involving a death takes time!

How would you erect barriers and such when an accident spills over 3 lanes of traffic? I would think having barriers would create more rubber-necking because you'd wonder what was behind those barriers.

I am sorry that this happened to your husband Bajamama. People dont understand that it takes time and patience to have this all sorted out. Leave no stone unturned as they say. I am very happy that your husband was safe and sound and came home to you. People need to think of the victims' families.. I can wait as long as they make me wait to go over any accident and crime scene.. I am just happy to be alive. Patience is a virtue. I am glad that truck driver contacted the local police. He didnt do that on purpose... I know he would have stopped if he knew. ..

MickeyP,

1.) You are sincerely frustrated because you were slightly inconvenienced this morning by the loss of life on the 101.

2.) You are trolling and are grinning from ear to ear.

Which is it? 1, 2 or both?

Don't feed the trolls.

I appreciate the insights into why there may be a need to keep roads closed during eventualities*, and even more so when these clarifications are made in a civil, non vilifying manner.

I think that the problem we should focus on is the lack of emergency alternative exits from the city. Whenever there's an accident it paralyzes traffic . What would we do in case of a real emergency?

*like safety of rescue personnel

To funny King.. notice how they dont respond now?

That is the price of living in a small town.. no room for alternative exits to keep traffic flowing.. we arent Los Angeles.. We have to deal with what we have.. Take all the suggestions of to the County, police, sheriff.. start the ball rolling. if you want things to change, dont just talk the talk, walk the walk. . this doesnt happen every day people.. think of the families involved in this .... they deserve our thoughts and prayers instead of alternate routes, etc. sheesh

For those people questioning the shutdown and complaining about the amount of time: WOW, that is all I can say.

Let's review a few facts 1) This was an accident involving 6, let me say that again, 6 vehicles which were all traveling at a high rate of speed and all sustained significant damage. Have you ever seen how much of a mess even a one car accident can create? One doesn't just shove vehicles to the side of the road magically. Equipment must be brought in; they have to find 6 tow trucks that are actually operating at the time. The tow trucks have to get to the location and once the vehicles are moved they have to clean up glass, engine fluids and bodily fluids before the road is safe to drive on.

2) 5 people were injured and 1 was killed. All of those people have to a) be extracted from their vehicles b) receive on scene medical attention and c) be taken to a hospital in ambulances that also have to get to the scene.

3) There was a fatality which means there will be a court case which means that CHP has to gather evidence (after the body is removed and after all of the above were completed). This evidence has to be taken from the scene based on where the cars lay as a result of the accident and then also from the marks left on the road. These marks are all over the road not just on the side so all of the lanes where evidence must be taken from have to remain closed until the investigation is completed.

4) Considering the enormity of this accident you should be happy that the freeway is open even now. So either have a little respect for the people involved in the accident and keep your selfish thoughts about getting to work late and being stuck in traffic to yourselves or at the very least respect that this was not just some simple clean up and continue to keep your self-serving thoughts to your selves.

Thank you.

BRAVO NUM.. couldnt have said that better myself. You hit it on the head. Can you believe how people are complaining? Great job on your post. plus pieces fly all over the area not just where the cars are .. sheesh.. they have to sweep the area .. big part of it... kudos to them for getting it done.

They say every village has one. I can confirm at least two. Mickey P and Thisislame.

While the Christmas accident I mentioned, as well as any other accident, was sad, we earned a lot from the experience. First, that our learning to drive on ice and snow in Minnesota had sharpened our skills of avoiding collision. That is how my husband my avoided being in the middle of a pileup.
Second, he witnessed firsthand the work of the emergency crews helping the wounded and the massive work in removing seven vehicles and waiting for the coroner .
Third, it enforced our habit of not being looky-loos or complainers.

This accident reminds me of an incident on the main road to Wisconsin from St. Paul. .1961, before cell phones. I saw a car going east on the west bound lane, and immediately dialed the emergency number and reported it. It was a divided Hywy, two lanes each way with a large grassy corridor separator.

The little old lady was not going fast, so cars were able to take the ditch or avoid her. She did not stop for the flashing lights as she knew SHE was driving just fine and she did not hear the sirens. She was completely befuddled when forced to stop. She and her elderly companion were given rooms at the Salvation Army women's shelter rather than be taken to jail. We all felt compassion for her as we read about this, as she had been visiting her dying husband in the hospital and very upset.
The Minn Hiway Patrol acted prudently but quickly to avert an accident waiting to happen.
Our public servants need kudos rather than armchair complainers.

Oh, Mickey P, you're so fine! Oh, Mickey P, you nearly blow my mind!

Does everything that happens in Tiny Town have to turn into a big debate over nothing?

If even half of the energy put into the comments sections of the Indy and the Noozhawk were converted to electricity, we wouldn't have a need for solar power.

The firemen are heroes, the CHP are heroes, the city police and sheriff deputies are heroes, our troops are heroes . . .

Everybody happy now?

Yep. So sad that people think of themselves.. Alternative Routes? Where do you think we should have them? why not if you hear about the accident before you leave home, STAY HOME. you will cause another accident if you drive being fusterated, etc..

When you are sitting in a jam like this morning, why dont you instead of being angry, etc cause you will be late for work or wherever you are going to think that wow, I AM ALIVE.. I AM OK.. Send thoughts to all the victim's families and the injured ones. For all who are victims in all crimes. YOU ARE ALIVE...

Having been forwarned to avoid the 101, I drove from north Goleta to work via Cathedral Oaks and Foothill around 9:30am.

Westbound traffic was normal at Fairview, Patterson, and Turnpike, slightly higher near 154, then bumper-to-bumper stop-and-go from the light at Cieneguitas to Mission.

The traffic jam was almost completely unnecessary. La Colina school was already in session. Why not disable the traffic light and prevent a traffic nightmare like this?

Instead, hundreds of cars idling their engines, going nowhere, all because the city or county didn't think it important to have officers wave westbound traffic through the lights at Cieneguitas and at La Cumbre.

The Commentator did have a good comment and suggestion that should probably be put into a motion to consider alleviating traffic jams when we do have these emergencies. Santa Barbara has so few main roads due to our terrain that reasonable requests should be looked at for feasability.
How fast such an action could be implemented is another good question. Given no slow downs via lights or stop signs, that traffic used to move pretty fast in that area and I'm sure residents and parents waited a long time for those lights.

However, safety issues do take precedence over individual disgruntlement due to tragedies.

How symbolic. The anger and venom in this thread is analogous to that that one sees while driving around Santa Barbara--especially on the freeway. What an interesting commentary on the "rats in the cage" theory. Reading this makes me feel as though I'm driving down the 101 doing 65 MPH while people zoom past me frantically as though I'm parked.

Quote: "To funny King.. notice how they dont respond now?"
Sorry, 0/10 for spotting trolls.
Yeah I stopped responding after this turned into a flame-fest.

Seriously...I complained about the traffic and the gist I get is mostly "how dare you complain! You insensitive ::insert insult here::!!"
Again, I DID NOT and AM NOT belittling the tragedy that occured. I would not wish this on anyone.

MY POINT was how unprepared traffic management was for commuters...so pardon my lack of carebare tears.
Sure, these freeway closures happen infrequently, but often enough that the city should already have a comprehensive plan for these.
Thanks to all who had constructive insight into the matter without resorting to name calling.
Bahamama, thanks for the food for thought. It does make oneself reflect on how trivial daily troubles actually are.

Someone is still dead.
Just keep that in mind everyone.

Might this have been a sui-homicide?

And yet you still seem unable to comprehend the enormity of the situation. That is the problem. Superman can't just swoop in and save the day when something like this happens. I am really sorry you missed some work though.

MickyP asked a question and got a torrent of nasty comments for daring to question why it took the time it did to clean up the mess.

Instead of vilifying MickyP, why not simply explain *why* it took the amount of time it did.

MickyP may be right--or may be wrong--in saying it took too long but why can't he/she pose a question without being nailed to the wall?

I think it would be interesting to hear from someone representing the various people involved in the cleanup.

The driver who caused the accident was having a medical emergency, not sure on the details, but is still under investigation.
However, I do know more about the victim, Raul. I used to work with him and can only express what a caring and loving individual he was. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Tragedies like this remind me that life is unpredictable. And all I can do is live it to the fullest.

Please drive safe out there.

"Couldn't they just clean up the mess, and move it over to the side without closing the whole damn freeway for hours?" MickyP

MickeyP suggested in his initial statement, whether he intended to or not, that the vehicles and injured people inside should be swept to the side of the road so that the morning commute would not be interrupted. He downplayed the severity of the accident: "It wasn't like a big rig crashed". He also asks questions that betray a lack of appreciation for or understanding of the severity of the accident: "If it supposedly happened around 6am...why was traffic still so bad hours later?" It doesn't seem difficult to predict how people would respond. That's why I thought he was trolling. Turns out he was sincere in his frustration.

I talked to a tow truck driver who said (so this is third-hand information) that the driver of the Verizon truck was going into a diabetic coma which caused confusion.

Let's see how this plays out.

I had to swerve to avoid that truck yesterday (now) AM, at about 6:00 near the Los Carneros exit. I've been wondering ever since why I was so lucky, and the fellow in the white van wasn't. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

I am done with this.. thank GOD i have a life to live . Sorry Jasmine for your loss of your friend, co worker.. Please send my thoughts and prayers to his families. Pray for all who get injured in the country from now on. Life is short.. My heart is sadden to hear about his children growing up without him.. and his wife.

I want to know what took the CHP so long to respond? He passed right by the CHP station at Los Carneros. Whats up highway patrol?

They said that this might have resulted from a medical condition - I wonder if this is another case of sleep-driving after taking Ambien? I can't think of any type of stroke that would do this.

I am sure that everybody spent more time reading and answering comments than the "poor" mickyP spent stucked in traffic...
Diabetic coma???C'mon...and he would be capable of driving almost 10 minutes straight but not stop the car?

More will be revealed. The medical reason which caused this driver to be disoriented will soon be uncovered. If not due to drugs or alcohol, which has definitely not been noted, then the man's medical records may be held as confidential. Medical records are supposed to be confidential.

More than likely, we will be told something from somebody who chooses to be anonymous due to the investigation under way.

It was a tragedy for everyone involved in this accident yesterday. And a shock to all of us who read or heard about it. Our condolences to the family of Raul, and the other persons injured .

If people stopped to think and speak their thoughts out loud before hastily typing them in they may be in for a surprise. It is easy to rattle out words sheltered by the anonymity of cyber space, but in real life would one really repeat these careless thoughts in front of the family of the victim, and to those injured and traumatised in this tragedy ? I don't think so.

Diabetic coma? Remains to be seen in this case, but from one whose father was thoroughly disoriented many times by insulin reactions I find it appropriate to reserve some sympathy for the Verizon guy.

http://bit.ly/2FOr5m

Onset of signs and symptoms is generally sudden and within a few hours after injection of short-acting insulin. Onset may occur many hours after injection of long-acting insulin preparations, and an insulin reaction may be more difficult to notice.

Signs and symptoms of insulin reaction include the following:

Mild

Hunger
Warmness

Moderate

Sweating
Trembling
Anxiety
High heart rate, pounding heart
Headache

Severe

Dizziness
Confusion
Difficulty concentrating
Hyperactive, bizarre, or psychotic behavior
Unconsciousness
Tremors, seizures

The progression from mild to severe symptoms can be sudden and dramatic. Remember Julia Roberts in "Steel Magnolias" http://bit.ly/3PFusr? My own dad very often missed the onset warnings, and sometimes would end up not even recognizing his own children.

Whatever the cause of Wedenesday's accident this remains a tragedy all around, and I am embarrassed to find so many complaints here about traffic.

damn, whats going on with mickeyp? yikes!

" ... The medical reason which caused this driver to be disoriented will soon be uncovered ..."
--bajamama--

During tonite's KEYT story segment, they had on a doctor specializing in diabetes discuss the possibility of being able to drive 8-miles while suffering from low blood sugar. The doc said it was within the realm of possibility.

I happen to work with a diabetic. I've seen this person first hand while suffering from a dangerously low blood sugar level. This person will sit and babble nonsense while sitting in a meeting with others and not even realize it! I was shocked the first time I saw this. Now I can recognize the signs and help this person check their sugar levels.

I know that Mark Selander is a thoughtful and caring x-navy all American family man and is deeply disturbed by the results of this incident. Please allow the professionals to investigate before jumping to conclusions.

In order to have a CDL (Commercial Driver's License) one has to meet certain medical criteria. A diabetic on insulin would not be likely to obtain a CDL. If Verizon has a worker who is an insulin using diabetic, it would be prudent not to have him or her driving the commercial vehicle. There are other jobs s/he could do.

Nonetheless, we don't yet know the facts as to what caused the Verizon driver to be impaired.

i dont know if anyone will read this since accident happen a few days ago, well i was very close to Raul and his family he had 2 daughters and 2 grandchildren, he was a wonderful man, he was great to get a long with he leaves behind his wife and family but also 1 brother and 1 sisters and parents, who are completely destroyed this is the second son they lose and its very hard on them....God Bless them all, and I hope that he can be a guardian angel for everyone traveling on the freeways. RIP Raul...