A head-on collision near the intersection of Calle Real and Mendocino Rd. in Goleta killed two area teens at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 17. Juan Alavarez, a 19-year-old Santa Barbara resident, and David Ramirez, an 18-year-old Goleta resident, were both transported from the accident scene to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital before being pronounced dead. Two other occupants of Alvarez’s vehicle are also at the hospital, recovering from injuries doctors are calling “serious but not-life-threatening, said a press statement from Sheriff’s Dept. spokesman Erik Raney.
The statement also noted that witnesses reported to investigating officers that the vehicle Ramirez was driving, a BMW, had passed another vehicle – possibly a pickup truck or minivan – shortly before it collided with the second vehicle, an SUV, in the eastbound lane. Because the speed of the involved vehicles is being factored into the investigation, Raney asked anyone with information about the circumstances of the accident and especially the driver of the truck that was passed to please notify Sgt. Greg Nordyke as soon as possible at 681-4100.