Edhat Staff
Updated by the edhat staff
A six-year-old has died from injuries relating to a vehicle rolllover on Highway 101 near the Gaviota Tunnel Tuesday evening.
At 7:40 p.m., Santa Barbara County firefighters, California Highway Patrol (CHP), and ground ambulances responded to the scene in the northbound lanes, just north of the tunnel in Gaviota, according to County Fire Captain Scott Safechuck.
CHP released its report on Wednesday stating a 2003 Nission Frontier driven by Javier Gonzalez, 31 of Santa Maria, was traveling in the number one northbound lane when the car lost traction due to rain. The vehicle slid out of control to the left and traveled 25 to 30 feet down a steep ravine that runs between the northbound and southbound lanes of Highway 101.
As the vehicle entered the ravine, it struck a large boulder, overturned, and landed on its right side. Captain Safechuck stated a total of four people, including two children, required extrication from the vehicle.
Javier Gonzalez did not sustain any injuries. Sonia Gonzalez, 31 of Santa Maria, was seated in the middle rear of the vehicle sustained minor injuries. A 2-year-old in the right rear seat sustained moderate injuries and a 6-year-old in the left rear seat sustained major injuries. They were transported to Santa Ynez Cottage Hospital where the 6-year-old was pronounced deceased upon arrival.
A Calstar helicopter was called to the scene but it reportedly could not fly due to weather conditions. CHP reports state the roadway visibility was poor in the area at the time of the crash.
Caltrans closed the northbound lanes at Mariposa Reina with motorists being detoured off the highway with SR-154 as a detour. The roadway was closed for approximately five hours.
The CHP reports alcohol and/or drugs were not a factor in this crash. The exact cause remains under investigation.
[Ed Note: This article has been updated with information released from the California Highway Patrol]
CHP had to be advised by concerned citizens that this accident was causing additional collisions and dangerous conditions south of the tunnel. Traffic driving northbound at Gaviota State Park were met with stopped traffic without warning in wet conditions and this was 45 minutes after the crash and the all patients had been transported.
What a very tragic event. As a parent, I cannot even imagine this loss. RIP little guy.
NICO, I too do not see that in any article.
That stretch out of the tunnel going north is so dangerous. I feel like there’s an accident there at least once a month! They should add more warnings and decrease the speed limit through there. Unless you’re used to driving that route, it can catch you by surprise.
That stretch of road is not dangerous. From just west of Mariposa Reina it’s signed at 60mph with about a 1,500′ radius. Out of the tunnel it’s signed 3 times for 55mph at each of the three approximate 1,000′ curves there and right after Ortega Trail it goes back to 65mph. The 60 and 65 signs are black and white and the legal speed limit. The 3 yellow ones are advisory only and that means driving a small P/U in the the Number one lane ( unless passing ) in the rain is not advisable.
“That stretch of road is not dangerous.” – It’s a heck of a lot more dangerous than other parts of the 101 in this area.
I agree, Tadges. I commute to SYV daily, using 101 in the mornings, most are moving pretty slow between the tunnel and Hwy 1, it’s actually pretty difficult to pick up any speed through there and I often find myself slowing unintentionally.
There was never a project before the tunnel to make the curve much safer. There was a huge project to make the curve much safer by reducing the radius along it prior to the turn off to the beach. This project was in fact done as anyone who as ever been along there would attest.