UPDATE (11:31 a.m.) - The victims have been identified by the California Highway Patrol as Jenna Causby, 19, and Dorothyann Guthrie, 20, both from Lompoc. CHP says they were killed when they were hit by a wrong-way driver.
Officers say Causby tried swerving to avoid a collision with the oncoming Ford C-Max but the driver of that vehicle also swerved and the vehicles collided and became engulfed in flames.
The other driver was identified as Kyle Nelson, 22, of Goleta. Officers say he was estimated to have been driving around 80 mph when he crossed over double yellow lines to pass slower traffic. He was taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for treatment of major injuries.
Nelson was arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, according to CHP. Officers say charges against Nelson are pending toxicology reports.
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UPDATE (8:22 a.m.): Two people were killed and another injured in a fiery, head-on crash near Gaviota early Friday morning.
It happened around 4:05 a.m. on Highway 1, approximately a mile west of Highway 101.
CHP tells KSBY that a Ford C-Max was heading southbound on Hwy 1 when the driver started to overtake another car, driving into the northbound lane.
A Chevy Malibu heading northbound, trying to avoid the Ford, swerved into the #2 lane northbound lane.
The Ford also moved into that lane and the two cars collided.
Two 20-year-olds were killed upon impact and another person is injured.
Both cars were engulfed in flames when officers arrived.
Hwy 1 was closed while authorities cleaned up the crash.
CHP officials tell KSBY that traffic has now reopened in both directions on Hwy 1.
CHP is investigating the crash. It is unknown at this time if drugs or alcohol were involved.
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UPDATE (7:35 a.m.): Caltrans says southbound traffic on Highway 1 has reopened.
The northbound lanes of Highway 1 remain closed.
Update #2: Southbound #hwy1 lanes REOPENED. Northbound #hwy1 lanes remain CLOSED at #hwy101.
— Caltrans District 5 (@CaltransD5) October 28, 2022
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UPDATE:
🚨RIGHT NOW🚨Traffic moving slow on #hwy1, one mile west of #hwy101 near #Gaviota following vehicle collision just after 4 am. First responders remain on scene.
— Caltrans District 5 (@CaltransD5) October 28, 2022
CHP Buelton told KSBY that the Highway 1 entrance on Highway 246 in Lompoc is closed.
Traffic has slowed down on Highway 1 according to Caltrans as well, so drive carefully if traveling through the area from the 101.
Southbound traffic on Highway 1 is being redirected to Highway 246.
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Two people were killed and another injured in a fiery, head-on crash near Gaviota early Friday morning.
It happened around 4:10 a.m. on Highway 1, approximately a mile west of Highway 101, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
Fire officials released few details, but said two people were killed and another injured.
Officials have not confirmed whether the highway is open at this time but CHP says there is at least one ramp closure along Highway 101.
This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.
