Highway 154 Incident a Possible Suicide Attempt
Woman's Car Went Off Side of Road and Fell Approximately 100 Feet
The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department is investigating an incident that took place Thursday on Highway 154 as a possible suicide attempt.
According to County Fire, rescue crews responded to an area just east of Painted Cave Road at around 11:40 a.m. and discovered a Volvo sedan over the side of the road approximately 100 feet down. Firefighters used a rope system to rescue the driver who was transported to Cottage Hospital with moderate injuries. The rescue took about an hour and blocked one lane of traffic.
Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Drew Sugars, noting that, as of press time, the lead deputy on the case hadn’t turned in his final report, said the incident is being investigated as a possible suicide attempt. He said the driver, who’s in her sixties, was heading up the pass toward Santa Ynez when her car went over the side. Unable to provide additional details so early in the investigation, Sugars said deputies are interviewing witnesses and checking to see if the car was working properly.
