Edhat Staff
Update by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
September 5, 2023
The Sheriff Coroner’s Bureau is releasing the identity of the decedent who fell from a cliff in the 6700-block of Del Playa in Isla Vista on Saturday, September 2, 2023.
Decedent is 19-year-old Benjamin Scott Schurmer of Ojai.
Cause and manner of death are pending.
Victim in Fatal Isla Vista Fall Identified as SBCC Student
By the edhat staff
September 4, 2023
A 19-year-old Santa Barbara City College student has been identified as the victim in Saturday’s fatal cliff fall.
The incident occurred in the 6700 block of Del Playa Drive around 10:53 p.m.
According to Santa Barbara County Fire Captain Scott Safechuck, fellow students made efforts to revive the young man, who was discovered in the water approximately 40 feet below the cliff’s edge. Tragically, their efforts were not successful. The victim’s name has yet to be released.
This marks the eighth fatal cliff fall in the past two decades within this area known for erosion. The location of the fall has been identified as an area prone to such incidents.
“My heart breaks for the family and friends of the student whose life was tragically cut short along the cliffs of Isla Vista on Saturday night. I join with the many Isla Vista neighbors as well as the Santa Barbara City College and UCSB community who share in the deep pain of the loss of a young person whose bright future was before him,” said County Supervisor Laura Capps.
She continued to state that one death along these bluffs is one too many and cliff safety must be established.
“I will continue to push for protective fencing and other safety measures as well as redoubling the educational efforts led by the Isla Vista Community Service District and others. These bluffs pose a real danger to people’s lives — it is time for common sense safety solutions,” said Capps.
In April of last year, a UCSB Alumni named Chasen Alibrando, aged 25 and from Santa Monica, also suffered a fatal fall from a cliff near the 6000 block of Del Playa Drive. Over the years, fatal falls in Isla Vista have claimed the lives of both male and female students from UCSB, Santa Barbara City College, and Cal Poly.
Efforts have been made to improve safety in the area, including the installation of a fence over a decade ago. However, these safety measures have not been able to prevent fatal falls or injuries. Additionally, danger signs posted along the fences are difficult to see at night, posing a challenge for individuals navigating the area.
In response to these tragic incidents, the Isla Vista community services district initiated the Cliff Safety Campaign in January of this year, aiming to raise awareness about the dangers associated with Oceanside patios and balconies. Although Isla Vista activists emphasize the need for urgent action, such as cutting through bureaucratic red tape to allow property owners to make additional safety enhancements, such as erecting higher fences.
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September 2, 2023: Fatal Fall in Isla Vista
