I am writing to implore the powers that be to add a guardrail along the right lane of southbound Highway 101 for approximately an eighth of a mile north of Montecito’s Olive Mill Road exit.
As Noozhawk reported Aug. 13, “1 Dead, 4 Injured in Collision on Southbound Highway 101 in Montecito,” a violent crash on the freeway there resulted in an SUV going down the embankment through brush, sheering off part of a large pine tree and decimating a chain-link fence, striking and coming to rest within inches of a condominium patio wall.
Sadly, the passenger was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. The driver was badly injured.
In the last 10 years, four vehicles have careened off the freeway at this location.
In 2021, a loaded cement truck overturned there, destroying an old eucalyptus tree that cannot be replaced and provided privacy to residents from the freeway traffic.
Fortunately, the driver was not badly injured. Now there is an empty lot with a view of traffic.
Safety is the most important factor here, for vehicle occupants and residents. Until Aug. 13, we had been lucky that none of the prior crashes resulted in death or fire common in such incidents. A fire in that area would almost certainly destroy multiple homes.
A guardrail would likely have prevented the victim’s death, and would provide a buffer to an impaired driver, preventing veering off the road and down the embankment.
Again, I implore authorities to prioritize this to prevent more tragedy and liability. Four similar crashes in the same spot are too many, and now sadly someone has lost a life.
K. Kirkman
Montecito
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The Aug. 14 article, “Former News-Press Employees Ponder What Bankruptcy Means for Backpay,” was a nice write-up on Wendy McCaw’s bankruptcy fiasco.
I fully expected such an outcome after 16 years of protracted and expensive litigation, which she lost at every level.
I am owed in excess of $650,000, plus 16 years of compound interest after being laid off from the newspaper without any warning in January 2009.
Fortunately, just three days later, then-Montecito Journal owner Jim Buckley called and asked me to come on board. My column, Miscellany, just celebrated its 16th anniversary!
McCaw has obviously shielded her properties to avoid having to pay out the millions of dollars she owes to so many people.
But I think she will find that her bankruptcy filing will be anything but smooth — particularly if Ira Gottlieb of the Teamsters has his way!
Thank you for continuing to shine the community spotlight on this unfortunate situation. McCaw should be ashamed of herself.
Richard Mineards
Montecito
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For the third time this week I almost sent a Tour de France wannabe to a “Tour de Cottage Hospital.” Riding three across at times, some without helmets and none having the courtesy or intelligence to signal their intention to turn, I’m beginning to think they have a death wish.
Judging from the pricy bike brands (Trek, Bianchi, Cervelo and Specialized), I’ll venture to guess they aren’t riding on two wheels to save the planet.
Motorists aren’t “out to get you,” but will the skinny-butt, skinny-tire cyclists stop riding like you’re invincible, because giving cars the middle finger as you fly past the intersection stop sign isn’t gaining you any friends.
Loretta Redd
Santa Barbara
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I often read D.C. Collier’s commentaries and always enjoy them. His Aug. 17 ponderings, “It’s Not About WHO I Am, It’s About WHOSE I Am,” described our current societal habits accurately, maybe too accurately: “Yes, we are communicating more than at any time in human history but are relating less.”
I am always amazed by those calling for his commentaries to be removed from Noozhawk because some find them offensive. We have lost our ability to be civil, to “agree to disagree” and appreciate that not everyone thinks or believes like we do.
There is a simple solution if you disagree with Collier and his views: Don’t click on the link.
Stefanie Hassett
Orcutt
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