UPDATE (1:34 p.m.) - Three teens from southern Santa Barbara County have been identified as the people who died in a four-vehicle crash on Highway 1 Sunday evening.
The crash happened at around 6 p.m. near Rancho San Julian in between Lompoc and Gaviota.
The California Highway Patrol believes a 2007 Toyota Yaris heading southbound crossed into the northbound lanes, crashing head-on into a 2024 Tesla Model 3.
The impact then caused the Tesla to collide with a 2012 Audi Q5 heading southbound. Officers say one of the vehicles also hit a 2002 Honda Accord.
The three people in the Toyota were all pronounced dead at the scene. The driver has been identified as Jake Curtis, 18, of Goleta and passengers Michael Ochsner, 17, and Alexander Wood, 15, both of Santa Barbara.
“This was a tragedy, and local families have lost loved ones,” said Buellton area Commander Lieutenant Jason Bronson in a press release. “We grieve with the families and work every day to prevent this loss of life in our communities.”
The Tesla driver and passenger were identified as a man and woman in their 50s from Lompoc. Both reportedly sustained major injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital.
The drivers of the two other vehicles involved were identified as 16- and 17-year-olds from Santa Barbara.
Anyone with information on the investigation is asked to contact CHP at (805) 691-6160.
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ORIGINAL STORY: Three people were killed and two others injured in a crash on Highway 1 outside Lompoc Sunday evening.
It happened shortly after 6 p.m. along a stretch of the highway between Lompoc and Gaviota.
According to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, four vehicles were involved. Fire officials say three people were pronounced dead at the scene. Another man and woman were reportedly taken by helicopter and ambulance to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Their injuries were described as major.
A closure of Highway 1 was in place at Highway 246 in Lompoc as of 7:09 p.m.
No other information was immediately available.
