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1-year-old seriously injured in rollover

By ERIC LINDBERG — July 10, 2009

A 1-year-old boy was seriously injured and his family members were hospitalized following a single-vehicle crash on Highway 101 in Carpinteria that resulted from the driver falling asleep, authorities said.

At approximately 12:01 a.m., Jose Rosales, 23, of Long Beach, nodded off behind the wheel of his aunt’s Mazda Tribute and allowed the vehicle to drift off the right shoulder, California Highway Patrol officials said, citing a preliminary investigation.

“Mr. Rosales awoke, perceived the imminent danger, and took evasive action,” CHP Spokesman Jim Richards said in a news release. “He steered the wheel to the left and lost control.”

The Mazda skidded counterclockwise off the highway, knocking over a wooden traffic sign before flipping onto its roof, authorities said. All five occupants in the vehicle were properly secured, but a 1-year-old in a child safety seat suffered major head trauma after the Mazda’s roof was crushed inward.

Rosales sustained a deep cut to his face, while a 2-year-old boy secured in a child safety seat also suffered facial lacerations. The parents of the two children, ages 35 and 37, sustained minor injuries, officials said.

Paramedics took all five family members to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. The family had been heading from the San Francisco area to Long Beach for a christening ceremony for the two children, Richards said.

Although the highway lanes were temporarily closed for investigation and cleanup, authorities said traffic was minimally affected due to the time of the incident.

Local CHP officials urged the public to travel safely and make sure they have plenty of energy before they embark on a long trip. Drivers should also take frequent breaks to ensure they remain alert, authorities said.

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: 7/13/2009

This guy is not only my friend, but also my hero. Thanks little buddy.

Big buddy

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