Santa Barbara Man Crashes and Dies off Highway 154
An 82-year-old Santa Barbara man was killed shortly before midnight on Saturday when he drove off the side of Highway 154 and crashed into a tree. According to the California Highway Patrol, Donald Newsam was driving his 1998 Honda eastbound near West Camino Cielo when, for unknown reasons, he failed to navigate a curve in the road and veered down a steep embankment. His car struck a tree and came to rest approximately 30 feet below the edge of the road, and Newsam sustained fatal injuries in the crash. Santa Barbara authorities were notified of the incident that night, but were unable to locate Newsam’s car until around noon the next day. CHP officials did not release additional details and said the crash remains under investigation.
