A motorcyclist was fatally injured Tuesday evening in a crash on Highway 154 near Paradise Road that shut down the highway in both directions.
Emergency personnel were dispatched at about 5:40 p.m to a report of a motorcyclist who had plunged some 100 feet over the south side of Highway 154.
Personnel on scene reported that the rider had suffered major injuries, according to Capt. Daniel Bertucelli of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
The victim, a 70-year-old Santa Barbara man who was riding a 2020 Harley-Davidson, was initially reported to be in and out of consciousness.
However, the Califoria Highway Patrol subsequently confirmed to Noozhawk that the motorcyclist had died of his injuries.
The motorcyclist was eastbound on the highway when, for unknown reasons, he crossed the double yellow lines and traveled into the westbound lanes, the CHP said.
“The rider made an unsafe turning movement, traveled in a southeasterly direction across the eastbound lane, onto the right shoulder, and off the roadway,” the CHP added.
The victim was ejected from his motorcycle and ended up down a steep ravine.
His name was not released pending notification of relatives.
A Calstar medical helicopter and the sheriff’s Search & Rescue Team were dispatched to the incident, but both were later canceled.
The roadway was shut down after the crash, but was reopened at about 6:25 p.m.
The CHP said is was unknown whether alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash, which was under investigation by the CHP.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact CHP Officer Green at 805.688.5551.
— 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.