A Santa Barbara man involved in a head-on collision on Carrillo Street has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter, Santa Barbara Police said Monday.

Two vehicles collided head-on on West Carrillo Street and Miramonte Drive around 8:20 p.m. Sunday, and both drivers were injured and transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Fire Department Battalion Chief Michael Hoose said.

On Monday, police Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale said traffic collision investigators responded to the scene, and it appears that the driver of a Nissan sedan was traveling west on Carrillo Street “at a high rate of speed and without headlights on.”

That driver — identified as Jose Fermin Lopez Jr., 24, of Santa Barbara — allegedly drifted into oncoming traffic in the other lane and slammed head-on with a Mercedes sedan, Ragsdale said.

The Mercedes driver died of their injuries at the hospital several hours after the collision, according to Ragsdale. They have not been identified by police, pending notification of relatives.

Lopez Jr. “is suspected of being at fault for the collision,” Ragsdale said.

He was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence causing death and vehicular manslaughter, according to police.

“Officers believed Lopez was under the influence of alcohol, and a DUI investigation was completed,” Ragsdale said. “Search and arrest warrants were approved by a Santa Barbara Superior Court Judge and Lopez was placed under arrest.” 

Lopez will be booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail after being released from the hospital, Ragsdale said.

The case is still under investigation by the Critical Accident Reconstruction Team of the Santa Barbara Police Department. 

No further details were available.

— Noozhawk managing editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at gmagnoli@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.