[Update: Mon., May 5, 2025, 2:30pm] The suspect in last Thursday’s alleged DUI crash is Katelyn Fultz, 28, CHP spokesperson Jonathan Gutierrez told the Independent on Monday. She is being held in county jail on suspicion of DUI causing injury, having a blood alcohol content of .08% or greater, and causing great bodily injury, with bail set at $130,000. The victim who suffered critical injuries remains in critical condition, and the other victim has major injuries, Gutierrez said.
[Update: Thu., May 1, 2025, 4:20pm] The driver of the truck involved in this Thursday morning’s two-vehicle head-on collision was allegedly driving under the influence at the time of the crash, according to an update California Highway Patrol. CHP reports that the truck, a black GMC Sierra, was “traveling eastbound on Highway 154, just west of San Antonio Creek Road, when it crossed over the double yellow lines into the westbound lane, colliding head-on with a black Pontiac Vibe sedan.” All parties involved, including the unresponsive occupant of the Pontiac, were transported to the hospital, and following an investigation, CHP said it determined the driver of the GMC was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
[Update: Thu., May 1, 2025, 11:51am] California Highway Patrol reports that the roadway is now clear and Highway 154 is back open in both directions following Thursday morning’s head-on collision. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
[Original Story] A head-on crash Thursday morning sent three people to the hospital and closed Highway 154 in both directions.
The crash occurred around 6:50 a.m. on May 1, when a pickup and small SUV collided head-on just north of San Antonio Creek on the San Marcos Pass, according to Santa Barbara County Fire spokesperson Scott Safechuck. The person in the small SUV, described as a black Pontiac Vibe on California Highway Patrol’s traffic incident information page, required extrication and was found unresponsive with critical injuries. Two other people were found walking from a black truck with moderate injuries, according to CHP. All three were transported by two ambulances to Cottage Hospital, Safechuck said.
As of 9:30 a.m., Highway 154 remained closed in both directions between State Route 192 and State Route 246 with no ETA on reopening, according to CHP, which advised drivers to use Highway 101 as an alternate route.
