S.M. man victim in pursuit crash

A man killed on Broadway Saturday night in a crash involving a suspected drunken driver who was being pursued by sheriff's deputies was identified Monday as Brandon Harper, 26, of Santa Maria.

Harper graduated from Righetti High School in 1998, said his mother, Catherine Harper. His father, Terry Harper, is an English teacher at Pioneer Valley High School.

Harper's mother described him as a sports fanatic who was a huge Oakland Raiders fan. Harper had worked as a carpenter for a construction company for three years. He was single and didn't have any children, she said.

Catherine Harper said her son, who was her only child, was charismatic and had many friends from all walks of life.

“He loved bringing people together,” she said. “He would hold barbecues at his house and gather a group of friends to watch the games.”

She said she was speaking out because she wants to see a change in protocol in high-speed chases. As a marriage and family therapist intern, she said, she always has an interest in children's safety.

“I want to see a change so no other mother will lose her only son and give up on having grandchildren,” she said.

Funeral services for Harper will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Crosspoint Community Church in Santa Maria.

Meanwhile, friends and family members have set up a makeshift memorial at the crash site. Crosses, flowers and flowered garlands were wrapped around a traffic pole on Broadway.

Harper was driving south on Broadway at about 10:40 p.m. Saturday when his vehicle collided with a 1999 brown Chevy Silverado truck driven by Miguel A. Garibay, 20, who was westbound on Betteravia and entered the intersection at a high rate of speed, according to the Santa Maria Police Department.

Garibay was being pursued by Santa Barbara County sheriff's deputies who suspected he was driving under the influence of alcohol, said Sgt. Rico Flores of the Santa Maria Police Department.

Witnesses at the scene said Garibay sped through a red light and was going nearly 100 mph, Flores said.

As a result of the collision, Harper's 1996 green Chevy Silverado truck rolled over and came to a stop on its roof at the southwest corner of the intersection, according to police. Harper was later declared dead at the scene.

Garibay continued driving west on Betteravia, hitting the center median just west of the intersection before crossing into oncoming traffic, police said. Garibay's truck collided head-on with a 2003 brown Nissan Altima driven by Sandra Gonzales of Guadalupe, according to police.

Gonzales suffered minor injuries in the accident, police said.

The pursuit began when deputies saw Garibay driving erratically on Santa Maria Way and Bradley Road, Flores said. They attempted to pull over Garibay, but he continued to drive away from them and entered Highway 101.

The deputies followed Garibay onto the freeway, then were able to pull him over, flashing their lights, after he exited at Betteravia. But as they approached his truck, Garibay sped off again, Flores said.

Deputies pursued Garibay and lost sight of his truck, which was going at a high rate of speed, at Miller Street and Betteravia, Flores said.

By the time deputies caught up to Garibay, the accident already had occurred, Flores added.

There was evidence that Garibay had been consuming alcoholic beverages, according to Flores.

Sgt. Erik Raney of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department said the department is investigating to determine if the pursuit was consistent with departmental policy. He stressed Monday that public safety is always paramount.

Garibay and Gonzales were taken to Marian Medical Center Saturday night and were treated for minor injuries. Gonzales was released the same night, according to police.

Garibay was treated and held under medical observation into Sunday. He later was booked on murder charges and was being held at Santa Barbara County Jail, Flores said.

Police are investigating whether Garibay ran a red light and how fast he was going. The department is also waiting for toxicology results to determine his blood-alcohol level.

Flores said the case will be forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for review in the next couple of weeks.

Kimberlina Rocha can be reached at 739-2216 or krocha@santamariatimes.com

January 23, 2007