Man Dies in Single-Car Accident near Santa Claus Lane

A single-car crash on Thursday evening resulted in the death of the driver, John Scheuermann of Santa Barbara. His white 2016 Subaru sedan was seen by witnesses to be weaving along the southbound 101 around 8 p.m., the California Highway Patrol reported, and also wandering along the highway shoulder just north of Santa Claus Lane. The car went off the shoulder and about 50 feet down a steep embankment, prompting 9-1-1 calls by passing motorists. Landing in heavy brush, the car caught fire. Quickly responding firefighters put out the blaze and extracted the driver, whose door was entrapped by bushes. The 62-year-old man died at the scene. The accident remains under investigation.