Alcohol Blamed in Calle Real Head-on Smash-Up

The Santa Barbara division of the California Highway Patrol has released more information on Thursday afternoon’s crash on Calle Real, east of Dexter Road.

According to a report from CHP spokesperson Officer Daniel Barba, 50-year-old Santa Maria resident Anthony Babcock was driving his three-axle, 1979 Peterbuilt dump truck westbound on Calle Real. Following behind him was 23-year-old Santa Barbara resident Cody Eicorn in a 2005 Nissan Frontier. Meanwhile, 38-year-old Santa Barbara resident Robert Catalfamo was driving a 1993 Ford Ranger truck east on Calle Real and, according to Barba’s account of events, was drinking an alcoholic beverage. Catalfamo then allegedly turned right to toss a beverage container out his vehicle window. This, Barba claimed, caused Catalfamo to lose control of his vehicle, which then crossed the double yellow lines and struck Babcock’s dump truck. Catalfamo’s vehicle spun out of control, hitting Eicorn’s Nissan Frontier.

Eicorn and Catalfamo were transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, where the former was treated for minor injuries and the latter was admitted for a fractured left arm. Catalfamo’s passenger, 27-year-old Lompoc resident Ryan Kelly, was also taken to Cottage Hospital but was released.

Barba ended his report of the incident by noting that alcohol did play a role in causing this accident but to what extent is unclear.