A Lakewood woman was killed Sunday morning when her van drove off the right shoulder of southbound Highway 101 north of El Capitan State Beach, struck a utility pole and overturned. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene while her passenger was extricated from the wreckage and transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for treatment of his injuries.
The southbound No. 2 lane and the nearby railroad were both closed for about two hours by emergency personnel. It was not yet known whether alcohol or drugs may have played a role.