The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s-Coroner’s Office identified the man who was found dead in Maria Ygnacio Creek Saturday as a 61-year-old from Downey in Los Angeles County.
Rosauro Vasquez was swept away in the creek after trying to cross the surging waters in a full size pickup truck in the area of North San Marcos Road and Via Regina, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The truck got stuck as Vasquez and two other passengers tried to cross the creek at a low-water crossing. When they got out out the vehicle, Vasquez was washed downstream by a swift current, according to authorities.
Personnel from Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue, County Fire, the Sheriff’s Office, American Medical Response and the California Highway Patrol responded to the incident after a family member called 9-1-1.
After a nearly two-hour search, Vasquez was found deceased in the creek near San Marcos Road and Via Parva, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The vehicle also was washed just downstream of the creek crossing, less than 50 feet away, Santa Barbara County Fire officials said.
That area is the site of another apparent storm-related death.
In February 2024, 86-year-old Peter Knudsen Miller was found dead in the same creek after his family reported him missing.
They discovered his truck stuck in the creek after he tried to cross at the 5000 block of Via Alba. Searchers later found his body in Maria Ygnacio Creek.
Emergency responders advise people to wait until water recedes before crossing swift-moving creeks, and to stay away from river and creek embankments as the soil is unsteady after recent rain.
Authorities say “turn around, don’t drown.” Most flood deaths occur when people drive a vehicle into hazardous flood waters, or people walk into or near flood waters.
“People underestimate the force and power of water. Many of the deaths occur in cars swept downstream,” the National Weather Service says. “Just 6 inches of fast-moving water can knock over an adult, and 12 inches of water can carry away most cars.”
