Deadly crash in Santa Barbara claims life of SBCC student
A deadly crash Wednesday evening in the 1300 block of E. Cabrillo Boulevard claimed the life of a motorcyclist and Santa Barbara City College student.
The crash was reported just before 6:30 p.m. across the volleyball courts in East Beach. It involved a white Honda Accord and a Silver Yamaha FZ09 motorcycle.
Santa Barbara City firefighters, Santa Barbara police and AMR ambulance were dispatched to the scene. The motorcyclist, identified as 23-year-old Santa Barbara resident Luke Stein, was rushed to the Cottage Hospital with critical injuries.
Despite life-saving efforts by medical staff, Stein died at the hospital from his injuries.
The Santa Barbara Police Department says the Honda, driven by 29-year-old Goleta resident Coredareo Nelson, was parked on the south curb of E. Cabrillo Boulevard near the volleyball courts when Nelson began driving and entered the eastbound lanes, and directly into the path of the motorcycle.
Stein was ejected from his motorcycle as he was traveling eastbound on Cabrillo Boulevard, according to SBPD. Speed does not appear to be a factor in the collision.
Nelson was also taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. SBPD says Nelson was arrested following a DUI investigation. He was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail and charged with:
191.5(a) PC, Gross Vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated 23152(f) VC, DUI Drugs/Marijuana 12500(a) VC, Unlicensed Driver.
Nelson’s bail was set at $100,000.
The the incident remains under investigation.
Santa Barbara police closed down Cabrillo Boulevard between Niños Drive and the Andree Clark Bird Refuge for two hours Thursday morning, while the Santa Barbara Police Department Collision Reconstruction Team continued their investigation into the fatal collision.
Anyone with information regarding this deadly crash is asked to contact Traffic Investigator Ethan Ragsdale at 805-897-3719.
