Fatal Traffic Collision on Hwy 1 near Vandenberg

Update by edhat staff
June 30, 2021

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff Coroner’s Bureau released the name of the decedent from Monday’s vehicle accident on Highway 1 at 135. The decedent has been identified as 47-year-old Jose Mario Velez of Lompoc.

Update by edhat staff
June 29, 2021

Emergency personnel responded to a fatal vehicle collision on Highway 135 near Highway 1 on Monday evening.

At 9:47 a.m., Santa Barbara County Firefighters, AMR ground ambulance, and California Highway Patrol (CHP) arrived on the scene under the bridge and discovered a single rollover collision.

The sole occupant of the vehicle, a male, required major extrication and was pronounced dead on arrival.

The collision took place after Vandenberg Space Force Base security initiated a pursuit of a driver who they claim was driving erratically and refused to stop.

“To protect the individual and the public, the 30th SFS patrolmen initiated a traffic stop; however, the individual fled at a high rate of speed, then unintentionally left the roadway, which resulted in the single-vehicle accident. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the deceased driver,” said Col. Robert A. Long, Space Launch Delta 30 commander.

The collision is under investigation by the CHP.

Photo: SBCFD