Driver Hits Three
Mother and Sons Struck on State Street
A woman and her two teenage sons were struck by a car driven by a 65-year-old female who, according to eyewitnesses, ran a red light at State and Carrillo Streets, leaving the three in serious condition at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Sunday night.
Cottage would not release the names of the three victims, or their injuries, but Sgt. Mike McGrew described the three as being in serious condition.
The driver, who was described by McGrew as “upset,” was taken to the police station for questioning. As of Sunday evening, McGrew said, she will not be charged with any crime, pending the outcome of a police investigation.
Police received several 911 calls at 5:11 p.m. Sunday, and arrived on the scene to find three injured persons lying in the north crosswalk across Carrillo. The 53-year-old mother and her 15-year-old son were found unconscious at the scene, and “didn’t look so good,” according to McGrew, who was first to arrive. The 18-year-old son suffered a broken leg and other minor injuries.
At the time of the accident, the stoplight at State and Carrillo Streets had been red and the walk sign activated for “at least two seconds,” when the silver Kia Optima traveled northbound through the intersection, according to Sam Price, who said he was only a step or two ahead of the three who were hit. “I heard a bang and turned around and I saw a dude lying on the ground with blood all over his head. It happened so quick I didn’t know what to do,” said a visibly shaken Price.
Other witnesses described the driver as screaming and hysterical after the incident occurred. There were blood stains on the street near the intersection, 20 feet beyond which the car had stopped. The side-view mirrors on the sedan were both broken, turned in toward the car, and the windshield had been smashed on the driver’s side.
Police shut down State Street between Figueroa and Canon Perdido Streets, as well as Carrillo Street, between Anacapa and Chapala, while a forensic unit and investigators tried to determine the exact events and cause of the accident.
