Councilmember House in Car Accident

Santa Barbara City Councilmember Grant House was broadsided by an oncoming driver of a Mercedes Benz after House ran a red light at the intersection of Santa Barbara and Canon Perdido streets Monday afternoon. House sustained minor injuries in the collision, but his Prius, he said, was totaled. The car that hit him, by contrast, was in much better shape, as was its driver. House, known for his strong support of alternative transit strategies, said he apologized to the person who hit him and took full responsibility for the accident. He remains mystified as to how or why he would have run the light, which he did not think was red at the time.