The Coroner identified the victims as Dos Pueblos High School students Jake Curtis, 18, of Goleta, Michael Ochsner, 17, of Santa Barbara, and Alexander Wood, 15, of Santa Barbara.
Lompoc, CA – The Santa Barbara County Coroner's Office has released the identities of three teens who were killed in a four-vehicle crash that left two other people with major injuries on Highway 1 near Lompoc Sunday evening.
The Coroner identified the victims as Jake Curtis, 18, of Goleta, Michael Ochsner, 17, of Santa Barbara, and Alexander Wood, 15, of Santa Barbara.
Authorities said all three deceased teens were students at Dos Pueblos High School.
The deadly collision happened at about 6:00 p.m. on Highway 1 near Rancho San Julian.
Investigators said a 2007 Toyota Yaris was traveling southbound on Highway 1 when, for some reason, it crossed into the northbound lane and crashed into a 2024 Tesla Model 3 head-on. The impact caused the Tesla to collide with two southbound vehicles, identified as a 2012 Audi Q5 and a 2002 Honda Accord.
All three occupants of the Toyota were pronounced dead at the scene.
Two people in the Tesla – a 54-year-old driver and a 53-year-old passenger – both from Lompoc, sustained serious injuries in the crash and were transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
The drivers of the Honda and the Audi sustained minor injuries.
The incident remains under investigation.
Original Story
Lompoc, CA – Three people died, and two others were airlifted to the hospital after a multi-vehicle collision that took place Sunday evening near Lompoc.
According to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, the pileup was reported around 6 p.m. on Highway 1, also known as Cabrillo Highway, between Lompoc and Gaviota.
Authorities said four cars were involved in the crash. One of them overturned onto its roof.
Firefighters responded to the scene and pronounced three people dead at the scene.
A woman was airlifted to the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital with major injuries, and a man was taken to the same hospital by ground ambulance with major injuries.
Investigators closed Highway 1 in both directions at Highway 246 as they worked the scene.