Man Killed in Collision Identified

The male pedestrian struck and killed by a MarBorg garbage truck in Wednesday’s traffic collision has been identified as 53-year-old Michael Neff. Neff is originally from Indiana, but has lived in Santa Barbara for a few years, according to police. He had spent the night down the street from the site of the collision at the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission with a friend, 45-year-old Michelle James, who was taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries. Neff died at the scene.

Santa Barbara police spokesperson Lt. Paul McCaffrey said that at 6:30 a.m. the truck, driven by 44-year-old Willie Glover, an employee of MarBorg, was traveling northbound on Calle Cesar Chavez and, while making a left turn onto Yanonali Street, hit the two pedestrians. Police said it was dark at the time of the collision and the roadway was wet, although there was no rain at the time. Streetlights in the area were operating.

Glover, who has a valid driver’s license to be operating the truck, stopped at the scene and cooperated with law enforcement. Police don’t believe he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. He told police that he didn’t see the two before the collision.

The results of a police investigation will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s office, which will review the case.