The Santa Barbara County Sheriff-Coroner has identified the victim in a fatal head-on traffic collision that shut down Highway 101 south in Gaviota earlier this month.

The victim was Thomas McGregor, 25, of Santa Barbara. McGregor was reportedly driving a pickup truck southbound during the early morning hours of January 5, 2024 when it collided with a semi-truck.

At 2:50 a.m., Santa Barbara County Firefighters and California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to the area just north of Dos Pueblos Canyon Road.

The pickup truck caught fire and McGregor was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the semi-truck sustained minor injuries and refused emergency transport to the hospital.

Highway 101 southbound was closed for about 12 hours after the collision.

The CHP continues to investigate the incident.

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January 5, 2024: Highway 101 South Closed Due to Fatal Traffic Collision