Update by the edhat staff
January 10, 2024
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff Coroner’s Bureau has released the identity of the victim in the fatal bicycle and vehicle collision in Carpinteria on January 9, 2024.
The victim has been identified as 80-year-old Steven Kingsley Close from Carpinteria.
Roadway Reopened After Fatal Bicycle and Vehicle Collision in Carpinteria
Update by the edhat staff
12:30 p.m., January 9, 2024
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office announced a Carpinteria roadway has reopened following a fatal traffic collision involving a bicyclist.
The incident took place around 8:45 a.m. Tuesday when a vehicle and bicycle collided on Rincon Road, between Via Real and Highway 101.
A section of Rincon Road was for most of Tuesday morning during the investigation. As of 12:00 p.m. the roadway is now open.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office stated the driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and the identity of the bicyclist is pending notification to family members.
Fatal Bicycle Collision on Highway 150 in Carpinteria
By Carpinteria Valley Radio
9:15 a.m., January 9, 2024
A bicycle rider was struck by a vehicle and killed on Highway 150 at the 101 junction this [Tuesday] morning.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to the accident shortly before 9:00 a.m. and blocked off the highway for the investigation.
Incoming traffic on Highway 150 is being diverted to Via Real for the time being.
We are providing updates at www.carpinteriavalleyradio.com.
Oh no, that’s awful. My condolences to the cyclist’s family and friends.
Man, tragic, very very sad. Bicicling is dangerous in traffic.
I wanna ride my bikem every day yet, don’t.. I never used to wear a helmet, now I wear a bright green vest and a helmet. Even then it is still dangerous out in traffic. I hear at least one bike involved call on the scanner every week.
Sorry to hear this.RIP. I continue to see bikes flying through stop signs and red lights.I’m not saying all bike riders are unsafe but I am encountering more and more, especially teens on electric bikes.
Was there a stop sign involved? There are certainly no traffic lights in the area. What Are you saying? You just read an article about a motorist hitting and killing a man. Do you have any motorist anecdotes to share?
BLACKDOG – Where does it say the car hit him? From the photo, doesn’t look like the car drove into him, unless they were reversing? Either way, it’s tragic. Let’s not make unfounded assumptions on either end.
“A bicycle rider was struck by a vehicle and killed on Highway 150 at the 101 junction this [Tuesday] morning.”
“Struck” is vague, especially given the photo above of the car with a smashed rear window and dent in the trunk. Still unclear how it happened, which is why blaming one or the other isn’t appropriate.
Oops, no it’s not vague at all. Cmon man.
You’re hilarious. Article says car struck cyclist. You say where does it say car hit him. Are you really that dense?
Maybe cyclist committed suicide by swerving into car because he couldn’t think of any other way to die.
Ok, Copernicus, explain the photo.
Look folks, all I’m saying is, without more facts, don’t jump to conclusions and start blaming either side. It’s not clear at all how this happened given the photo.
People are thrown over cars sometimes when hit, especially when hit on a bike and their center of gravity is higher. Windshields/back windows are not very strong when point forces are applied suddenly.
Bingo.
BlackDog, It sounds like you have a bicycle seat up your tailstock. You must ride a lot of miles to be so touchy.
Condolences to their family. Amazingly, he was still so active! I hope to go doing something I love.
However, I have to say, that people should NOT be riding bikes on the 150. I’m sure he was not on his way to Ojai, but those cyclists who ride that road have a death wish. I drive it often and am super careful, but I still have almost either hit them or crashed trying to avoid them. Stop it already!
Bicycling should be banned on highway 150, period. The road was not designed for bicycles and there are virtually no bike lanes. This tragedy is another reminder of how unsafe it is and how foolish it is to allow it. I’m going to look into what it would take.
Just a very odd set of facts right now based on the picture and description. That is an amazingly dangerous stretch that I try to avoid. The folks coming over the pass Westbound use that as a runway to get onto the 101 and its narrow.
Steve is one of my clients. I just heard today from his family today. Apparently he was rear-ended and died instantly.
Take a good look at the photo of the car with the broken rear window. Notice how large the shoulder area is compared to the roadway. They are almost the same size. I have often seen drivers mistake these very large shoulders as another traffic lane. It’s very possible that’s what happened in this collision.