Nineteen Santa Barbara Half Marathon runners were transported to area hospitals on Sunday and police are investigating “suspicious circumstances,” Lt. Ethan Ragsdale said.
Emergency crews responded to a handful of areas along the race route, including on State and Cota streets, between 9:40 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.
Santa Barbara City Fire Department Battalion Chief Cory Cloud told Noozhawk that emergency crews took 12 people to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and three to Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital.
He said four people self-transported.
Rumors quickly spread on social media that the runners had been drugged or that water stations had been spiked, but police said no cause has been identified as of Sunday night.
Ragsdale confirmed the Santa Barbara Police Department is actively investigating reports of runners who sought “medical treatment for unusual symptoms” after the event ended.
He said at around 6:50 p.m. that the cause of the reported symptoms has not been confirmed.
Santa Barbara Half Marathon Event Director David Monico told Noozhawk that organizers have “no reason to believe that it’s anything more than just the heat and exhaustion from the half marathon.”
He added: “Everything from our medical staff and tent spoke to that as well.”
Monico said it is not unusual to have people transported to the hospital during a “warm day” like Sunday. “Even on some of our cooler days we’ll have some transports,” he added.
Santa Barbara had a high of 86 degrees on Sunday.
Cottage Health spokesperson Cristina Cortez told Noozhawk that hospital emergency departments received “a larger than expected number of emergency visits” on Sunday connected to the Santa Barbara Half Marathon.
“This morning 19 participants arrived at Cottage EDs, a number of them with similar symptoms of undetermined cause. We are working to determine whether this is due to the heat or other factors,” she said.
“There is no specific action recommended for the general public at this time,” Ragsdale said. “However, participants who feel unwell should seek medical attention and follow guidance from healthcare professionals.”
He said that anyone with information about this incident should contact Sgt. Andre Miller at 805.897.2330.
Additional information was not immediately available.
Check back with Noozhawk for updates to this story.
