Out-of-Control Driver Damages Retaining Walls, Front Yards Along Las Positas Road

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - Residents along the 2400 block of Las Positas Road are dealing with damage to their front yards, thanks to an out-of-control driver.  

Erinn Lynch said Wednesday's late morning incident was not a one-off.

"Well, we've seen a number of crashes out here," said Lynch. "We sort of gather as neighbors. It's sort of the eye roll thing that we do when we hear a big bang out front of our houses."

She shared video of a serious accident last year between an SUV and a motorcyclist that sent the biker skidding across the multiple lanes of the busy thoroughfare. Her neighbor's security camera captured the collision.

"More recently, we had a distracted driver hit the electric pole in front of our house and knock it over."

Lynch said Wednesday's incident involved a speeding black Jeep that appeared to pass another vehicle before losing control and jumping the sidewalk.

"No one was walking on that sidewalk, that stretch of sidewalk at the time, but it was probably 50 yards of a vehicle up on the sidewalk and on the retaining walls of the three to four houses."

Lynch said children were on the sidewalk just two hours earlier, walking to school. 

Remnants of crumbled retaining walls, a bent metal railing and skid marks dot the sidewalk. The incident was upsetting enough for Lynch to send off a letter to city leaders.

"The potential of kids being on that stretch of sidewalk, I had to revisit and reach back out to the city and let them know there needs to be some things to address vehicle load and traffic on a street that was really meant for just residences, 80 years ago."

She said she also corresponded with the city 16 years ago when two pedestrians were hit and killed crossing Las Positas Road while trying to get to the Earl Warren Showgrounds during Fiesta.