A driver who allegedly caused a crashed that killed two people Tuesday night in Goleta was arrested on suspicion of murder and driving under the influence, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Andrew Raymond Burgher, 31, of Santa Barbara was eastbound on Cathedral Oaks Road in a 2016 Toyota 4-Runner at a high rate of speed when he slammed into the back of a 2002 Ford Mustang, according to CHP Officer Jonathan Gutierrez.
The collision occurred at about 7:30 p.m. on Cathedral Oaks Road at Camino Cascada, between Kellogg Avenue and Cambridge Drive.
“The Mustang spun clockwise and struck two parked vehicles along the south curb of Cathedral Oaks Road,” Gutierrez said. “The driver and passenger of the Mustang were pronounced deceased at the scene.”
The victims were identified Wednesday by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office as Gilberto Arteaga-Gutierrez, 40, of Santa Barbara, the driver, and Silvia Velasco, 45, of Lompoc.
CHP officers on the scene determined Burgher was intoxicated, Gutierrez said.
He was transported by AMR ambulance to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for treatment of minor injuries, then booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of murder and felony driving under the influence causing bodily injury, Gutierrez said.
Burgher remained in jail custody Wednesday, with bail set at $2 million.
A small dog that was in Burgher’s vehicle was uninjured, and was turned over to county Animal Services.
The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is requested to contact the CHP at 805.967.1234.
Santa Barbara Superior Court records indicate that Burgher has two prior misdemeanor convictions for driving under the influence — in 2010 and 2012.
Check back with Noozhawk for updates to this story.
— Noozhawk executive editor Tom Bolton can be reached at tbolton@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.