Call it blind luck. Or fate. Or divine intervention.

Whatever was at work, it’s amazing that no one was seriously injured the night of March 28 when a Ford Explorer roared down San Andres Street on Santa Barbara’s Westside.

Shortly after 8:30 p.m., the vehicle blew through a stop sign at the T intersection with West Canon Perdido Street, jumped the curb, sidewalk and a low protective wall, and was launched deep into a residential duplex on the far side of the road.

Because the unit was unoccupied at the time, no one was hurt but the Explorer driver.

What’s even more amazing is that was not the first time a vehicle had ended up inside the home on the 600 block of Canon Perdido Street.

Crash Was Latest of 6 Incidents

Gregg Petty, who has owned the duplex since 1979, told Noozhawk that there have been six incidents of vehicles causing damage on the property, including a crash 12 years ago when another vehicle ended up partially inside the home.

On a recent afternoon, the scene inside the damaged unit was reminiscent of what you might expect after a tornado or hurricane.

Walls were buckled, and debris was everywhere.

The household fixtures of everyday life — couches, chairs, bookcases, lamps, a cat condo and more — were tossed about, mixed in among pieces of the walls and ceiling.

The front of the structure where the vehicle came through has been shored up with two-by-fours and covered with plywood.

Petty described what happened when the driver — identified as Leticia Abigail Castro, 32, of Santa Barbara — plowed into the home, which was unoccupied because the residents were on vacation.

“It came in through the entry wall, hopped up onto the raised foundation and knocked down the light in the ceiling,” Petty said.

“The tire glanced off that wall over there, with the bumper up there pushing the wall into the kitchen.”

The impact severed the home’s natural gas line, although there was no explosion or fire.

“The lady got out of the car, worked her way out of the hole, and by then the firemen and police had just arrived,” Petty said.

He said “there was not a skid mark to be found” in the roadway in front of the duplex, and all four of the Explorer’s tires were flattened.

“The vehicle came through at such a speed that it just wasted the front,” he added.

Driver Arrested on Suspicion of Drunken Driving

Castro was arrested by the Santa Barbara Police Department.

She was taken first to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, then booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of drunken driving, according to Sgt. Bryan Kerr.

She later was released after posting $20,000 bail.

The case remains under review, according to District Attorney John Savrnoch, and no charges had been filed as of Monday.

Vacation Likely Saved Tenants From Harm

If the tenants had been home when the crash occurred, they most likely would have been “sitting here watching television in their two chairs, and that vehicle would have killed them both instantly,” Petty said.

Two cats that were inside the duplex at the time of the crash apparently each used up one of their nine lives, as neither was injured, Petty said.

The tenants from both sides of the duplex, whose names have not been released, have been displaced because of the major structural damage and the fact that the utilities to both units have been disconnected.

Similar Crash Occurred 12 Years Ago

Petty recounted that a similar crash occurred 12 years ago, when a previous tenant also was away.

That woman had arranged for a friend to house-sit while she was gone.

The friend had planned to get to the duplex in the evening, Petty said, but delayed her arrival until the following morning.

Again, luck, fate or a higher power appeared to be at work.

Had the friend come as planned, she likely would have been sleeping on a futon against the front wall, Petty said.

“The vehicle that had a person fall asleep at the wheel didn’t hit the brakes either,” Petty said. “It came right through the intersection, and the vehicle was in the unit, with the windshield inside.

“That person would have been killed had they been here as planned, but thank God they weren’t.”

On four other occasions over the years, vehicles ended up in the duplex’s front yard, Petty said.

Plans in Works to Install Protective Barriers

Petty believes the multiple crashes prove that San Andres and Canon Perdido streets make up a “bad intersection” and that installation of safety barriers is long overdue.

Santa Barbara city officials apparently agree that something should be done and are working to install temporary barriers, according to Brian D’Amour, acting Public Works director.

The temporary protection most likely would involve K-rails or similar concrete barriers, he said.

“We will prioritize processing of any necessary permits to expedite installation, which could be as early as next week,” he told Noozhawk on Friday.

In the meantime, Petty has arranged for large concrete blocks to be craned into place in the front yard to provide immediate protection for workers on the site.

The permanent solution, D’Amour said, is likely to involve bollards installed just inside the curb. 

That would be similar to what exists in front of a residence where North Milpas Street ends with a left turn onto Anapamu Street.

“Provided there are no utility conflicts with the proposed location, installation can occur this summer,” D’Amour said.

Repairing Duplex Is a Longer-Term Proposition

Repair of the damage to the duplex so that it can be occupied again appears to be a longer-term proposition.

“Building and Safety has been and will be working closely with Mr. Petty and his design team,” D’Amour said. “At this point, permits have been issued for the replacing of the exterior wall, interior demolition of damaged walls, and temporary electrical service.

“Building and Safety anticipates to soon receive the subsequent permit application for the remainder of the work.”

Petty indicated that he may take the opportunity to make some modifications to the structure, which could delay progress on preparing it for occupancy.

Tenants Have Found New Accommodations

Meanwhile, the tenants — a couple living in each half of the duplex — have found new accommodations after spending a couple weeks in a hotel, according to their attorney, Jim Scafide.

All four met at the site last weekend along with Scafide, according to Steven Fairly, who has been helping Petty work through the situation.

“All seemed healthy, and thankfully no one was physically injured,” Fairly said. “However, the magnitude of the damage to the structure and its infrastructure was clearly disturbing.”

Scafide said the tenants have not decided whether they want to return to the duplex once it’s repaired.

While clearly unsettled by the most recent crash, Petty has indicated that his approach going forward will be to work with all involved to make things safer.

“They (the city) are looking seriously at getting a barrier out here,” Petty said. “Rather than take the approach of, ‘Why didn’t they do it in the past?’ the approach is now, ‘I’ve got their attention, and they’re listening, and they’re hopefully going to prevent a death.’”