Tools

Big Rig Driver Dead, Three Others Injured In Buellton
34.602694 -120.191889

View larger map

UPDATE: Big Rig Driver Dead, Three Others Injured in Buellton Accident

Written by Kateri Wozny

Story Created: Jan 12, 2012 at 4:13 PM PDT

Story Updated: Jan 13, 2012 at 8:20 PM PDT

Buellton - The driver of a big rig is dead and three others injured after a vehicle accident Thursday afternoon.

It happened about 2:40 p.m. on northbound Highway 101 at Santa Rosa Road. Santa Barbara County Fire, Hazmat, water tenders, AMR, a battalion chief and helicopter all assisted.

Santa Barbara County Firefighters, with an eight engine response team, arrived on scene to find a big rig truck fully engulfed in flames at the bottom of a creek. Kelli Groves, 36, her daughter 10-year old Sage and 10-week-old infant, Milo, all of San Juan Capistrano, were trapped inside their BMW, dangling off the side of a bridge

CHP tells KEY News the BMW was in the left lane and the big rig was to its right. For an unknown reason, the truck lost control, swerved into the BMW then went crashing into the concrete guardrail, falling 50-feet into a creek and burst into flames.

Kelli and Sage were airlifted by helicopters, they are both alive. Milo was also rescued.

The driver of the big rig, 48-year old Charles Arthur Allison Jr. of Grover Beach, died in the crash. The truck spilled approximately 50 gallons of diesel fuel in the creek bottom. Investigators are checking for hazardous material.

All three patients were transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. They've sustained broken bones and moderate injuries.

Highway 101 was closed in both directions due to the accident. Traffic was rerouted over Highway 154 and Highway 1.

KEY News Reporter Shirin Rajaee Reports.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Primetime

Middle
8.00
the middle
8.30
suburgatory
Modern Family
9.00
modern family
9.30
don't trust the b in apartment 23
10.00
revenge
11.00
key news