Accident on 101 Kills One

Very early on Sunday morning, a 2005 blue Saturn Vue flipped into the central median of Highway 101 just south of El Capitan Ranch Road, fatally injuring a 19-year-old passenger. Jean A. Antognini, 74, was driving northbound on the highway with three passengers, when her car went into the median for unknown reasons, flipped, then landed on its wheels in the left lane of the southbound highway; two unbelted passengers were ejected. With its lights out and no overhead freeway lights, the car was struck by two passing vehicles; the secondary incidents are described as “minor” in the CHP report, which described weather conditions as “clear, dry, cool.”

Transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital around 2 a.m. were Antognini, a Lompoc resident, who suffered major injuries; a 10-year-old girl from Rochester, New Mexico, with moderate injuries; and Avalon Jean McFarland, 19, of Centennial, Colorado, with moderate injuries. The deceased was also from Centennial, Colorado; release of his identity will be made after his relatives are notified.