A pair of young sisters died in a vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon near Vandenberg Village and a Cuyama man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and drunken driving after the violent high-speed impact split the car in half, authorities said.
At 3:51 p.m., Santa Barbara County firefighters and California Highway Patrol officers were dispatched to the incident in the area of Harris Grade and Rucker roads in the Lompoc Valley.
A California Highway Patrol officer attempted to stop a speeding sedan, but the driver went faster, traveling well above the speed limit.
The Infiniti’s driver fled north on Harris Grade Road, accelerating to high speeds and passing vehicles recklessly on the narrow two-lane road, CHP Officer Arshdeep Dhanda said Thursday.
Less than a minute later, the driver failed to negotiate a curve, slamming into an oak tree with enough force to tear the vehicle in half.
A CHP officer arrived at the scene moments after the impact to find that the 3-year-old girl and 7-month-old girl in the Infiniti were killed in the crash, Dhanda added.
The Infiniti’s driver, Brian Hernandez-Cervantes, 23, of Cuyama, had moderate injuries.
Hernandez-Cervantes has been arrested for suspicion of murder, child endangerment, driving under the influence of alcohol, and reckless driving causing injury, the CHP said.
After the collision into the tree, the front portion of the vehicle slid down the hillside filled with chaparral and the rear portion of the vehicle struck a southbound Toyota Equinox, whose driver was uninjured.
The CHP Coastal Division Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team, made up of experts in accident reconstruction, traffic engineering, and automotive engineering, has joined the complex investigation.
“No family should suffer such a tragic loss, and we grieve with them as we continue our duty to protect the public,” said Lt. Jason Bronson, commander of the Buellton Area CHP office.
“We ask everyone to help us spread the word against drinking and driving. For yourself, your family members and your friends, if you drink, don’t get behind the wheel. Together we can make a difference,” Bronson added.
Anyone with additional information about the incident can call the Buellton Area CHP office at 805.691.6160.
Authorities had not released the names of the girls as of Thursday evening.
A GoFundMe fundraising page has been launched to help the family of the girls.
The campaign raised more than $10,500 toward the $15,000 goal in eight hours on Thursday.
The girls’ grandparents, long-time Los Alamos Valley residents, “received the most devastating news any grandparent could get,” according to the GoFundMe page launched by a family friend.
“As the family goes through the grieving process, the unexpected cost of funeral expenses is real. Please, we ask for any help you can give, share this, or say a special prayer for the family as they move through the days ahead.”