Three Killed in Two Separate Collisions in Lompoc Area over Weekend

[Updated: Mon., Oct. 23, 2023, 5:20pm]

Three people died in two car-related incidents — a fatal hit-and-run on Saturday and a head-on collision on Sunday — during a deadly weekend in and around Lompoc.

The first incident occurred Saturday evening in the parking lot of the Home Depot at 1701 East Ocean Avenue, according to Lompoc Police spokesperson Corporal Robert Dugan. At around 6:07 p.m., police officers responded to a vehicle-versus-pedestrian hit-and-run in the area, where they found a 42-year-old man with major injuries. Despite lifesaving measures, the man — identified by Lompoc Police on Monday as Antonio Ramos of Lompoc — died at the scene. Dugan said police are investigating the incident and asked anyone with information to contact the department at (805) 736-2341. No description of a suspect has been provided at this time.

Less than 24 hours later, a two-car collision on a country road just outside Lompoc left two dead and another in critical condition. According to the crash report released Monday morning by the California Highway Patrol’s Buellton office, the collision occurred Sunday at 5:12 p.m. on Santa Rosa Road and involved a 2022 Chevy occupied by two 23-year-old women and a 2004 Chevy driven by a 22-year-old Buellton man. The car with the two women was reportedly traveling 60 mph on Santa Rosa Road when, “for unknown reasons,” according to the report, “it crossed the painted double yellow lines and traveled directly into the path” of the other Chevy, which was approaching at 40 mph from the opposite direction. 

The two women — driver Cassidy Falk of Solvang and passenger Alia Griffin of Buellton — were pronounced dead at the scene. The Buellton man sustained major injuries and was airlifted to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, where his current condition is unknown. CHP’s Buellton office is investigating the crash.