Richard Lawrence Rodriguez, of Tustin, was traveling northbound in southbound lanes in a 2003 Mitsubishi Montero at the time of the head-on collision, which occurred at approximately 1:20 a.m. on Sunday, according to a California Highway Patrol incident report.
Marcos A. Arredondo, 18, and Macrina M. Ocampo, 58, both of Goleta, died as a result of the collision, while two girls, aged 15 and 16, suffered serious injuries and remain hospitalized. Rodriguez sustained only minor injuries and authorities planned to book him into jail after he was treated.
An on-duty sheriff’s sergeant had spotted the wrong-way driver minutes before the collision while traveling south on the highway near Fairview Avenue, according to the CHP report. She swerved to avoid the oncoming car and immediately reported the situation to emergency dispatchers.
A deputy entered southbound lanes at Glen Annie and Storke roads and spotted the wrong-way Mitsubishi heading his way. Authorities said there were two vehicles between the deputy and the oncoming vehicle.
“It was later determined that the vehicles were traveling together, on their way back to Goleta from Lompoc,” according to the incident report. “When the deputy activated his emergency lights, the driver of the first vehicle observed the lights behind him and swerved right, narrowly avoiding the oncoming vehicle, which he did not see. Seconds later, the deputy witnessed the wrong-way vehicle strike the second southbound vehicle head on.”
The Mitsubishi came to a stop in the center divider with Rodriguez trapped, while the other vehicle, a 2000 Honda Accord, stopped in the center lane with four occupants trapped inside.
Ocampo, the front passenger in the Honda, was pronounced dead at the scene, while Arredondo succumbed to his injuries shortly after being taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
Arredondo’s parents had been traveling in the vehicle that swerved out of the way of the Mitsubishi, authorities said, and pulled over to the shoulder following the collision. Their two daughters, the backseat passengers in the Honda, suffered serious injuries including bone fractures, spinal fractures and traumatic head injuries.
All five people involved in the incident had their seatbelt fastened, according to the CHP report. Firefighters had to use hydraulic rescue equipment to pull the victims from the wreckage.
Authorities closed down southbound lanes between Storke and Los Carneros roads during the investigation, which ultimately determined Rodriguez was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision.