Woman dead after two-car crash in Santa Maria
SANTA MARIA, Calif. – A 53-year-old Santa Maria woman died at the scene as the passenger of a two-car crash on Highway 101 just past Betteravia in Santa Maria early Sunday, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
On Monday, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office Coroner's Bureau publicly identified the woman as 53-year-old Alma Teresa Alcorta Del Lazaro of Santa Maria.
This marks the third fatal crash in the past 24 hours across Santa Barbara County, detailed the SBCFD.
The 53-year-old was the passenger of a 1998 Chevy Silverado as alcohol is believed to be a factor in this crash with a 34-year-old woman the suspect, explained the CHP.
The Silverado driver, a 63-year-old man, suffered critical injuries and needed transport by ambulance due to the crash and the 34-year-old woman in a 2020 Mazda had major injuries from the incident, according to the CHP.
Highway 101 was closed due to the crash and from the wrong-way driver, explained the SBCFD.