Two Die in Accident on 101

The Montecito Fire District (MFD) has reported responding to a fatal accident at 2:26 a.m. on Sunday, October 14 on the southbound Highway 101 near the San Ysidro Road overpass in Montecito. Ryland McCracken, a firefighter and paramedic with MFD said a red Chevrolet Camaro carrying three occupants was traveling south on San Ysidro Road and broke through the east side overpass guard rail, plunging to the freeway below. Two occupants in the vehicle – a 21-year-old Palo Alto woman and a 26-year old Santa Clara woman – were ejected and died at the scene, while the driver of the car – 29-year-old Beau James Robertson of Palo Alto – had to be extricated with the “jaws of life” and was transported to Cottage Hospital in critical condition from life-threatening internal injuries.

According to a report from Donald Clotworthy from the California Highway Patrol, investigators have determined that Robertson was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. Officers arrested him at the hospital on charges of felony driving under the influence and felony vehicular manslaughter.

A second vehicle, a Honda, traveling southbound on Highway 101, struck the Camaro after it fell onto the 101. Upon being struck by the Honda, the Camaro then somersaulted and rolled into the adjacent lane. The driver of the Honda – 33-year-old Marina De Alfaro Duarte of Ventura – was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital suffering from minor injuries. Her husband, 34-year-old Enrique Alfaro, was treated at the scene. Two children in the car – Yurithzy Alfaro and Pilar Gomez – were transported to Cottage Hospital after they complained to emergency medics that they felt pain. The fifth passenger, 14-year-old Daniel Alfaro, was apparently uninjured.

Montecito Fire District responded with one squad and one engine, and Carpinteria Fire District also sent one mutual aid engine. AMR ambulance set three ambulances and the California Highway Patrol also responded. Nearby residents said the freeway was re-routed for most of the night but as of 8 a.m. this morning all lanes on the 101 were open. A temporary replacement guardrail was erected by Caltrans workers on the San Ysidro overpass.

The names of the deceased are being withheld until their families have been notified of their deaths.