A driver was killed Monday in a single-vehicle crash on Highway 166 east of Santa Maria. The pickup truck came to rest in the Cuyama River, some 300 feet off the roadway.
A driver was killed Monday in a single-vehicle crash on Highway 166 east of Santa Maria. The pickup truck came to rest in the Cuyama River, some 300 feet off the roadway. Credit: Santa Barbara County Fire Department photo

One person was killed Monday in a single-vehicle crash on Highway 166 east of Santa Maria, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

The crash, involving a pickup truck that came to rest some 300 feet off the roadway, occurred shortly after 8:30 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

The truck ended up in the Cuyama River near Rockfront Ranch, about midway between Santa Maria and New Cuyama, fire Capt. Scott Safechuck said.

The driver and sole occupant, whose name was not released pending notification of relatives, was declared dead at the scene, Safechuck said.

The Santa Barbara County Search & Rescue team responded to the incident to recover the victim’s body, and assisted the tow company with the extraction of the vehicle, according to team member Kevin Hess.

Cause of the crash remained under investigation by the CHP.

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