Rollover accident on Highway 101 in Santa Maria kills one
SANTA MARIA, CALIF. – A vehicle rollover accident on southbound Highway 101 left one Nipomo man dead and temporarily closed two lanes in Santa Maria on Monday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The California Highway Patrol first reported the incident around 9:45 a.m. on southbound Highway 101 and Main Street in Santa Maria.
A 2007 Nissan 350Z was traveling northbound along Highway 101 in the left lane next to a 2002 Honda CRV in the middle lane, according to the CHP.
"Due to an unsafe lane change, both vehicles collided causing the Honda CRV to overturn multiple times and ultimately traveled over the median wall dividing the northbound and southbound lanes," said CHP Officer Maria Barriga.
The two right lanes of southbound 101 were closed until around 11:10 a.m., according to CalTrans.
The Honda landed on its wheels in the righthand lane and shoulder of southbound Highway 101 and the driver – a 68-year-old Nipomo man – was transported to Marian Regional Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.
The driver in the Nissan was left uninjured, according to the CHP.
Anticipate slowdown on Southbound #US101 in Santa Maria approaching Main St. due to a vehicle rollover blocking the #3 (far right) lane. Only the #1 (left) lane remains open. No estimate or time of reopening. Watch for emergency response vehicles.
— Caltrans District 5 (@CaltransD5) May 9, 2022
The name of the deceased has yet to be released by the Santa Barbara County Coroner's Bureau.
