Driver Runs Vehicle Into DMV Building During Driving Exam

No one is injured, but the Castillo Street building sustains moderate damage

The driver of a vehicle jumped a curb and ran the vehicle into the corner of the DMV office on Castillo Street on Thursday. No was injured.
The driver of a vehicle jumped a curb and ran the vehicle into the corner of the DMV office on Castillo Street on Thursday. No was injured. (Santa Barbara City Fire Department photo)

By Michelle Nelson, Noozhawk Staff Writer | Published on 08.27.2009

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A driver completing a driving exam Thursday morning jumped a curb and ran into the Department of Motor Vehicles building at 535 Castillo St. Neither the driver nor the DMV test examiner was injured.

Santa Barbara City Fire Department Engine 1 was called to the scene about 9:30 a.m. after reports of possible injuries. The crew later determined there were no injures, but moderate damaged to the corner of the DMV building was noted.

Chris Mailes of the fire department said the vehicle went about 2 feet into the corner of the building on the south side. An office is located in that part of the building, but no one was in the office at the time of the accident.

Upon the request of Engine 1, city building officials evaluated the safety and integrity of the building and determined that it remained structurally intact.

— Noozhawk staff writer Michelle Nelson can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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» SB on 08.27.09 @ 02:53 PM

Wow. That dood DEFINITLY didn’t pass his drivers test!

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» whoops! on 08.27.09 @ 03:59 PM

Not to stereotype, but that looks like an Asian woman standing next to the car, lol.

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» observer2 on 08.27.09 @ 04:12 PM

Unforgettable!!!!

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» ANother driver on 08.27.09 @ 09:01 PM

That certainly is something to laugh about.  The examiners there are tough and fair.  Go to Goleta if you want an easier exam.  so far:

2 (of my kids) Failed downtown,
2 (of my kids) Passed in Goleta.

It was good for my kids though.  Humbled them a bit!

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» Nutty on 08.27.09 @ 10:14 PM

That’ll get repaired at DMV speed, so it may be fixed by this time next year, but that’s a stretch.

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» DPHS on 08.28.09 @ 05:30 AM

Hopefully, all the examiners are tough everywhere.  We need to be absolutely positive that teens are ready to be on the road before they get their license.  This is a funny story since no one was hurt, but watch the British PSA on texting while driving and you quickly remember that a car is a 4000pd weapon and if mistreated can do a lot of damage.

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» Not trying to bust your balloon on 08.28.09 @ 05:42 AM

The Asian woman pictured is the driving test proctor. I know, she proctored mine. I passed.

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» patrick on 08.28.09 @ 06:43 AM

Hey Whoops, that does look like an Asian woman standing next to the officer, but I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions, she might have been a witness or a DMV employee—you can’t tell by looking at the photo.  I think you are stereotyping. 

For what it is worth, last Sunday, I rode my bike 2.5 miles from the westside to the Home Improvement Center.  En route, I saw four cars run red lights and one car driving the wrong way on Haley.  All with caucasian drivers.

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» SB1977 on 08.28.09 @ 07:47 AM

LOL!!!!!

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» KRichards on 08.28.09 @ 07:54 AM

“Not to stereotype”, whoops? That’s exactly what you just did.  Why did you feel the need to point that out, other than to reinforce the stereotype? That is racism.

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» patrick on 08.28.09 @ 08:22 AM

I just read elsewhere that the driver was a male.  I don’t know his race, but he obviously wasn’t an Asian woman.  People like Whoops should stop stereotyping and jumping to erroneous conclusions—it does no one any good and just perpetuates the racial problems that we already have, even if done in jest.  (Just my opinion.)

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» sbdude on 08.28.09 @ 08:22 AM

please.  stereotypes are based on facts.  nothing racist about it.  just bias.

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» whoops 2 on 08.28.09 @ 08:43 AM

Easy people, the asian woman next to the car was a joke. It was mentioned because everyone(except for a few of you) know they are some of the worst drivers around.  <- another joke.  don’t get mad this time…pleeeeze

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» George on 08.28.09 @ 08:44 AM

he/she won’t be getting a licence any time soon!
lol

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» GR8T DRIVER on 08.28.09 @ 09:38 AM

WELL DID HE/SHE PASS?

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» Bender on 08.28.09 @ 10:34 AM

HAHAHAHA HOW??? thats all i have to say. the driver must have thought ghost riding was a requirement to pass the test. also i would like if CA adopted harder testing policies like German licence requirements such as being able to correct a spin out while driving

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» Oh My! on 08.28.09 @ 04:04 PM

Question: Did the driver get a drivers license suspension for a license, which of course, he didn’t have?  Will this be on his/her record?  I feel sorry for the driver, he/she probably was as nervous as I often get when I want to do everything “right” for my husband.  And then, wham, part of the garage attacks me when I want to park the car, leaving its white smeared over the side.

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» Lu on 08.29.09 @ 05:11 AM

I thought you said, “floor it”.

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