A lawsuit filed in Santa Barbara County Superior Court accused a vineyard owner and at least one other person of negligence due to a double-fatal crash involving a driver under the influence of alcohol and cocaine.

The lone survivor of the two-vehicle crash, Morgan Bouslaugh, is named as the plaintiff for the civil action filed July 16 by Solvang attorney Matthew Halme.

Lafond Vineyard Inc. and Julian Mathieu were named as defendants along with up to 20 other unnamed individuals. 

Bouslaugh, then 22, was critically injured in the head-on crash involving two pickup trucks occurred shortly after 5 p.m. Oct. 22, 2023, on the 6000 block of Santa Rosa Road, about 4½ miles west of Highway 101, according to the California Highway Patrol. 

Cassidy Falk, 23, of Solvang and Alia Griffin, 24, of Buellton were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Prior to the crash, Falk and Griffin reportedly were at the property with Mathieu, who lives at the Lafond Winery and Vineyard property and was employed directly or constructively by firm, according to the lawsuit.

Mathieu said “they were trap shooting and drinking Coors Light beers,” according to a CHP report.

But the lawsuit contends the level of cocaine found in Falk’s system according to the toxicology report suggests “it was consumed in the immediate time frame prior to the accident” and while Falk was on vineyard property.

“Plaintiff is informed and believes Lafond Vineyard, Inc.’s and Mr. Mathieu’s negligence in allowing Ms. Falk to leave the premises by motor vehicle while intoxicated with an illegal substance exposed the public and specifically plaintiff to the peril of an intoxicated driver creating a known foreseeability of harm,” the civil complaint says. 

The CHP investigation pinned fault for the crash on Falk due to being under the influence alcohol and crossing the solid yellow lines. 

After receiving toxicology reports the Coroner’s Office cited Falk’s cause of death as multiple traumatic injuries due to a motor vehicle crash and listed “acute alcohol and cocaine intoxication” on the death certificate.

Tests also revealed marijuana in Falk’s system while her blood alcohol content was reported as 0.18%, more than twice the legal limit for driving.

Investigators did not suspect foul play and listed the manner of death as accidental. 

A civil lawsuit represents one side of a case; the defendants are expected to file responses to the lawsuit in the coming weeks.

Bouslaugh was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for treatment of major internal injuries.

He is seeking compensatory and punitive damages along with the costs of the lawsuit and other relief the court deems proper.

The case has been assigned to Judge Patricia Kelly, and the first case management conference is set for Nov. 12.