Fatal Crash on 154

Highway 154 reopened at 8:14 a.m. after being shut down due to an early morning accident. At 2:40 a.m., a Ford F-250 pickup truck crashed into a berm after careening off the side of the road where it curves in the windy gap area near Old San Marcos Road. The driver and his front seat passenger — both of whom were not wearing seat belts — flew out of the truck. The passenger died of injuries while the driver was taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital to be treated for major injuries. A second backseat passenger was wearing a seatbelt and survived with only cuts and scratches according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The truck was traveling “at a high rate of speed,” and alcohol is believed to be a factor, a CHP press release stated. The names of the victims have not been released.