UPDATE (5:05 p.m.) – The California Highway Patrol has identified the person killed in a Santa Maria crash as Heather Sevier, 41 of Bakersfield.
Investigators said she was driving east on Highway 166 near Cottonwood Canyon road around 2 a.m. December 12, when her vehicle veered into the wrong lanes.
She crashed into an oil tanker. The driver of the tanker was not injured in the crash.
UPDATE (11:49 a.m.) – Caltrans reported that Highway 166 is open again.
UPDATE (10:33 a.m.) – The California Highway Patrol says a woman is dead after veering her car into oncoming traffic on Highway 166 west of New Cuyama early Wednesday morning.
According to the CHP, a driver was headed east on Highway 166 near Cottonwood Canyon Road when her 1996 Ford F250 veered into the wrong lanes around 1:54 a.m. Wednesday. The car then crashed into an oil tanker.The driver of the oil tanker said he noticed the other vehicle and tried to slow down, but he could not avoid the head-on crash.
The F250 then left the road and became engulfed in flames. The driver, who is being described as a Jane Doe, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The truck tractor flipped on its side. The oil tank ruptured when crews were trying to bring it upright. Caltrans crews helped with the cleanup.
As of 10:33 a.m., Caltrans reported that Highway 166 is still closed.
UPDATE (7:51 a.m.) – Caltrans has issued an extended closure of Highway 166 after a deadly crash on the roadway overnight.
Highway 166 is closed from Tepusquet Rd, east of Santa Maria to Perkins Rd in New Cuyama.
Caltrans is telling drivers hoping to go from the coast to the valley to take Highway 46 or Highway 58.
Officials have not said when Highway 166 might reopen.
SigAlert: #Hwy166 from Tepusquet Rd east of #SantaMaria to Perkins Rd in New Cuyama is CLOSED by tanker/veh crash so take #Hwy46 or #Hwy58 as other route from coast to valley. @CaltransDist6 @CHP_Coastal
— Caltrans District 5 (@CaltransD5) December 12, 2018
UPDATE (5:15 a.m.) – Santa Barbara County Fire responded to a head on collision between a pickup truck and tanker truck at approximately 1:51 a.m. Wednesday.
Fire officials say the pickup truck veered into the lanes of oncoming traffic and hit the tanker truck at a high rate of speed.
Head on vehicle accident with one fatality. 7700 blk. Hwy.166. Pick-up truck vs. Semi. Call Newsline for more info. pic.twitter.com/frxfMSS0UA
— Dave Zaniboni (@SBCFireInfo) December 12, 2018
The pickup truck caught fire after the crash, and fire officials say the female driver died at the scene.
Officials say the tanker truck rolled onto its side. That driver was uninjured.
As of 5:15 a.m., crews remained on scene clearing the area and road closures were still in place.
UPDATE: Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department says a tanker truck crash near Cottonwood Canyon Road is fatal.
The identity of the victim or possible victims has not been released.
CHP is investigating the cause of the crash.
This is a developing story and will be updated when new information becomes available.
A tanker truck crashed with one other vehicle on State Route 166 early Wednesday morning.
Calfornia Highway Patrol responded to the crash at approximately 2 a.m near Cottonwood Canyon Road.
According to CHP, a closure has been set up at Tespusquet Road near Santa Maria and another closure is set up south of Cuyama.
As of 2:30 a.m. a hazmat team has not been called to the scene.
This is a developing story and will be updated when new information becomes available.
