Santa Ana Woman Dies in Crash on Highway 101

CHP says the driver wasn't wearing her seat belt properly and was partially ejected; her 12-year-old daughter suffers a minor injury

By Michelle Nelson, Noozhawk Staff Writer | Published on 06.23.2009

  • E-mail
  • Print this page Print
  • Post | View Comments
    • Share

A Santa Ana woman died and her 12-year-old daughter was taken to a hospital Tuesday morning after a traffic collision on Highway 101 near Refugio Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Police say the woman was traveling northbound on Highway 101 shortly before 9 a.m. when she drifted off the roadway, lost control of her Toyota and overcorrected. The vehicle overturned across the center median and came to rest on its wheels in the southbound lanes.

According to the CHP, skid marks and tire tracks indicate that the vehicle’s left wheels drifted off the asphalt roadway. The driver steered to the right and applied the brakes in an effort to slow down and position the car on the roadway. The vehicle rotated counterclockwise about 180 degrees just before it left the roadway. It overturned several times, leaving a debris trail across the center median, before it came to rest.

CHP commercial officer Ralph Villegas responded to the scene and contacted the 12-year-old passenger, who was wearing her seat belt and sustained a minor hand injury. She was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. The driver, who had been wearing the seat belt’s shoulder harness under her left arm, was partially ejected out the driver’s window. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Traffic on Highway 101 southbound was closed for about 30 minutes for the investigation, vehicle removal and cleanup.

The driver’s name has not been released pending notification of next of kin.

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

Comments

Noozhawk's comments are moderated, but by posting here you accept your responsibility to follow our rules.

  1. No abusive, defamatory or libelous attacks. In plain English: No personal attacks.
  2. No vulgar or discriminatory language.
  3. If you do not follow these rules, don't be surprised if your comment is removed.
  4. Please use the Report Abuse button on offensive comments.
  5. Share what you know, ask about what you don't. Give us your eyewitness accounts, observations, background and history. Tell us what else you want to know about the story.
  6. Stay on the topic, PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK, and forgive people their spelling errors.

Noozhawk's intent is not to limit the discussion of our stories but to elevate it. Thank you for your respectful participation. Click here for our complete Terms of Use.

Comments are moderated, and will not appear until they've been approved.

You must be a registered user to comment. Create a user account

Log in




Auto-login on future visits

Forgot your password?

More Local News »

House Poised to Vote on Historic Health-Care Bill Sunday

As Democrats scramble for last-minute votes, Capps touts legislation's reforms

Does Local Currency Make Dollars and Sense for Santa Barbara?

Economic hardships fuel questions but you may not know we've tried it here before

Phil Wyatt Builds High-Tech Company with Low-Key Approach

Wyatt Technology's founder and CEO serves as a steady guide for his staff in pinpointing a niche in laser-based instruments

Santa Barbara Airbus Picks Up and Moves to New Location

The company will have more legroom at its new home on Technology Way in Goleta

Residents Get Look at Master Plan for Santa Barbara

An open house kicks off a public-comment period designed to help shape the future of the city

Weather: Fair 49.0º


© Malamute Ventures LLC 2007-2010 | ISSN No. 1947-6086

Web Design & Development by PixelFive