UPDATE (Sunday, 12:33 p.m.) — The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has released new details regarding the fatal crash near Guadalupe on Saturday morning.
According to authorities, the crash happened around 6:25 a.m. on Highway 1 just south of SR-166.
CHP representatives say a 2015 Jeep Cherokee was driving southbound behind a 2020 Kenworth tractor-trailer when the tractor-trailer slowed down to initiate a right turn into an agricultural field.
For undetermined reasons, authorities say the driver of the Jeep rear-ended the trailer, causing a severe crash and killing the driver.
The driver of the tractor-trailer was identified by CHP as Santa Maria resident Rigoberto Rosales.
Officials have not identified the driver who was killed at this time.
CHP representatives say the fatal crash serves as a sober reminder to exercise extreme caution when driving in agricultural or rural areas, especially in the early morning hours when visibility may be reduced.
(Saturday, 10:13 a.m.) — On Saturday morning, a driver was killed in a passenger vehicle vs. semi-truck collision on Highway 1 near Guadalupe.
Santa Barbara County (SBC) Fire Public Information Officer Scott Safechuck reports that the crash happened south of West Main Street.
The single driver of the passenger vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene, according to officials.
Authorities say the driver of the semi-truck is uninjured.
By 7:16 a.m., Safechuck reported that both vehicles were off the roadway.
Highway 1 remains open in both directions while SBC Fire, the Guadalupe and Santa Maria Fire Departments, and the California Highway Patrol stay at the scene to assist the coroner.
