Update by California Highway Patrol
Summary:
On December 13, 2019, at approximately 1:16 A.M., a fatal traffic collision occurred on US-101 southbound just north of Garden Street. A 2017 Freightliner Truck Tractor was traveling southbound within the number 3 lane of US-101. A pedestrian ran from the center divider of the freeway, across the southbound traffic lanes, directly in front of the Freightliner. The pedestrian was struck by the Freightliner in the number 3 lane of US-101.
The Freightliner came to rest within the number 3 lane adjacent to the gore point of the Garden Street exit. The pedestrian came to rest on the right shoulder of US-101southbound, north of Garden Street. The California Highway Patrol (CHP), Santa Barbara City Fire Department, and American Medical Response ambulance company (AMR) responded to the collision scene. The pedestrian succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene. The collision remains under investigation at this time. It is unknown if alcohol and/or drugs were a factor in this collision. Victim information will be releasable through the Santa Barbara County Coroner’s office after next of kin have been notified.
By an edhat reader
Report via scanner traffic that a pedestrian was struck and killed on the Garden Street offramp by a semi at approximately 1:15 am. Initial reports indicate the victim was a 20 year-old male. CHP requested a closure of the off-ramp by Cal/Trans for the investigation.
Many people do this I doubt it was suicide they do it at Castillo all the time but we will probably never know.
Almost hit someone a few weeks ago that was running across the freeway, really close call. Ughhh stupid people!!!
I was the Edhat reader who made the initial report. I had the same question as Rinconer after hearing the incident. Crossing the 101 at that point made no sense, but who knows what was going through the decedent’s mind at the time, or if he was impaired somehow.
The decedent’s address is listed as “Oak Park,” which, as it turns out, is in the unincorporated area of Ventura. At first I thought maybe we were now assigning local parks as addresses for vagrants.
How horrible, and tragic, for both the driver & deceased …
Knowing nothing about the decedent, he is still mocked in his death… Classy. NOT. I too looked up “Oak Park” but I thought it was near Oak View, not the park on Alamar.
Why was he trying to run across a freeway at 1 a.m. ? I guess we’ll never know.
At the risk of stating the obvious, Garden St. has a safe pedestrian crossing under the freeway, so his intention was likely suicide.
R.I.P. to him and the traumatized truck driver.
Maybe even Frat hazing?