A driver turned left from Highway 1 at Santa Lucia Canyon Road between Lompoc and Vandenberg Space Force Base into the path of a southbound vehicle, causing Tuesday’s crash that led to the death of an unborn baby, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Just after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, emergency dispatchers received a call of two-vehicle crash on Highway 1 at Santa Lucia Canyon Road with law enforcement officers, firefighters and medics sent to the scene, California Highway Patrol Officer Arshdeep Dhanda said Wednesday.
The driver of a 2021 Lexus was traveling south on Highway 1, in the fast lane, approaching Santa Lucia Canyon Road.
The driver of a 2018 Honda CR-V was northbound on Highway 1 before slowing to make a left turn onto Santa Lucia Canyon Road.
“The Honda turned left through the southbound lanes, in front of the approaching Lexus. The Lexus struck the right side of the Honda, resulting in major injuries to both drivers,” Dhanda said.
The Honda’s pregnant driver was taken by CalStar medical helicopter to Marian Regional Medical Center, but her unborn baby was pronounced dead from injuries sustained in the crash, Dhanda said.
Authorities did not provide the gestational age (or length of the pregnancy).
The names of names, ages or hometowns of the drivers also were not released.
This investigation is ongoing, Dhanda added.
Recently implemented safety measures driven by concerns about bad crashes at the intersection prompted Caltrans to block left turns from Santa Lucia Canyon Road onto Highway 1.
However, northbound drivers still can turn left from Highway 1 onto Santa Lucia Canyon Road.
The measures were installed following multiple meetings focused on short-, medium- and long-term solutions.
Santa Lucia Canyon Road provides access the Lompoc Federal Correctional Complex plus the southern side of the Lompoc Valley and Vandenberg’s Lompoc Gate (Pine Canyon Gate) and South Base entrances.
Anyone with additional information about the crash is asked to call the Buellton Area CHP office at 805.691.6160.