Santa Barbara Area CHP Officer Dies in Traffic Collision

Jarrod Martinez, thrown from his motorcycle while braking, was hit by an oncoming vehicle and dragged about 45 feet

By Michelle Nelson, Noozhawk Managing Editor | Published on 10.30.2009

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An on-duty California Highway Patrol officer died Thursday after trying to avoid a collision with an oncoming vehicle on Foxen Canyon Road at Steele Street in Los Olivos.

Jarrod John Martinez
Jarrod John Martinez

About 12:15 p.m. Thursday, Officer Jarrod John Martinez, 30, of Buellton, was on his motorcycle as he returned home from traffic court. He was headed westbound on Steele Street, approaching the intersection, according to CHP spokesman James Richards.

Meanwhile, Solvang resident Curtis Seymour Smith, 68, driving a 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera, was approaching the same intersection from Foxen Canyon Road. According to the CHP, Smith cut across the width of Foxen Canyon Road, positioning his vehicle on the wrong side of the road as he turned onto Steele Street.

Martinez braked to avoid the vehicle, but his motorcycle slid out from under him and he struck the right front corner of Smith’s Porshe. The officer was dragged by the undercarriage of the vehicle for about 45 feet before Smith could stop the vehicle, according to CHP.

Witnesses called 9-1-1. An off-duty deputy medical examiner traveling in the area arrived at the scene and attempted to render aid to Martinez, who died minutes later.

Martinez is survived by his wife, Patricia, and 4-year-old daughter Julia. A trust fund is being established for the family at Wells Fargo Bank.

The Buellton CHP and the Coastal Division Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team are investigating. No arrest has been made, and CHP said neither alcohol nor drugs appear to be a factor in the crash.

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

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» ashton on 10.30.09 @ 09:51 PM

I ride through that area often.  People coming off 154, onto Foxen, and then onto Steele, cheat that corner all the time.  Many people out there cheat corners all along Foxen cyn., especially the tourists who don’t know how to drive and treat the area like they are in the wine country version of Disneyland.  Pay attention to what you’re doing when you’re driving.  This guy died for nothing more than a few extra feet of asphalt.  RIP rider.

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» Bill Clausen on 10.31.09 @ 03:51 AM

Once again someone’s lack of paying attention to their driving has caused more pain and suffering.  People never learn.

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» Bill Clausen on 10.31.09 @ 03:58 AM

So here we are yet again wringing our hands in frustration as we read about yet another innocent life being snuffed out because someone was either not paying attention or was in just too much of a hurry to think that careful driving rules applied to him.

Maybe something good can come out of this. Perhaps local law enforcement will *finally* realize that bad driving is an epidemic in the Santa Barbara County area and start an aggressive campaign to ticket speeders and others who drive in a dangerous manner. Sometimes it takes losing one of your own to make one realize the magnitude of a problem.

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» Javier on 10.31.09 @ 02:54 PM

Jarrod Martinez you will never be forgotten

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» A Reminder to All of Us on 10.31.09 @ 07:20 PM

A sad thing for this family, the CHP, and our community. Driving is almost always a risk, and worse when someone is careless. Let’s be careful.

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» Gigi on 10.31.09 @ 08:00 PM

I was turning left into the 7-11 on Calle Real in Goleta with my signal on and a speeding red car zoomed up behind me and moved into the shoulder to pass me.  I honked.  We are moving too fast on this planet and people are taking short cuts that are cutting shor lives.

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» It could have been many of us... on 11.01.09 @ 10:47 PM

Incredibly sad. Good reminnder to all of us to drive more carefully. May his family find comfort and provision. My heart goes out to them.

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» DLB 12281 on 11.02.09 @ 04:29 AM

Jarrod, may you rest in peace.  It was an honor working with you & watching you develop into such a conscientious officer. The CHP has lost an individual who possessed flawless integrity and a strong work ethic. Your absence will leave a painful void at Shift Briefings, as well as through each tour of duty on C-Watch - a void which will never be filled by another. But know, Jarrod, we will carry on the same work ethic you demonstrated on a daily basis in your honor. Officer Jarrod Martinez, #19081, Santa Barbara Area CHP, End-of-Watch 10-29-09. Our lives are richer for having known you and we will do our best to care for your academy classmates and your family through this tragedy.

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» concerned citizen on 11.02.09 @ 11:33 AM

Lets please not loose track of the only thing that matters here:  A person lost his life while serving our community.  It is an absolute tragedy to think of his wife and daughter without their husband and father.

Please do what you can to help the family.
Forget about the other petty concerns.

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» Jeremy Reddick on 11.04.09 @ 09:31 PM

You will always be missed. You may be gone from us, but you will never be forgotten. Thoughts and prayers for the family and the California Highway Patrol.

In regards to DLB 12281:
Way to keep a fallen hero beside you and in your heart. I have a family member who is CHP and when both Britt and Rick where tragically taken from us one rainy day in Santa Maria, that brought me closer to what you men and women do every day out there in the field to protect us and put your life on the line everyday. Just know that from this day forward all of the officers in the California Highway Patrol will be in our thoughts and prayers and never forgotten. Please give my blessings to the men and women that you work with everyday and know that our family supports your work.

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