Fatal Crash in Orcutt:
A woman from Santa Maria died, and a man was critically injured in a head-on collision that occurred Monday midday on Highway 135 in the town of Orcutt. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the accident took place near the intersection with Foster Road shortly before noon.
Santa Barbara County Fire Department crews arrived at the scene and extricated one of the drivers who had been trapped in their vehicle, which was severely damaged. Both individuals involved in the crash suffered serious injuries and were urgently transported to Marian Regional Medical Center by an American Medical Response ambulance, as reported by Karen Cruz-Orduña, spokesperson for the County Fire Department.
The crash involved a 2020 Nissan Altima, driven by Jordan Gutierrez, a 26-year-old from Santa Maria, who was heading north on Highway 135. For unknown reasons, his vehicle veered left, crossing into the southbound lanes and striking a 2015 Honda Civic head-on, driven by a 79-year-old woman, also from Santa Maria.
The woman was taken to the hospital, where she was sadly pronounced dead due to the injuries sustained in the crash. Authorities have not yet released her name, awaiting family notification. Gutierrez sustained severe injuries and remains under medical care.
CHP investigators are still working to determine the exact cause of the accident. The highway was temporarily closed to traffic after the incident.
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