Santa Barbara County
Faulty wire bonding blamed in Goleta fire
Santa Barbara County Fire officials have determined that faulty electrical bonding on a power pole sparked the 22-acre blaze that burned above Goleta last week.
The failure of the electrical bonding on the power pole caused a cross member at the top of the structure to catch fire, officials said.
The burning embers fell and ignited the dry grass at the base of the pole.
Nearly 100 firefighters from various fire agencies fought the blaze at the end of Glen Annie Road, about two miles north of Cathedral Oaks Road, overnight and contained it Friday.
No injuries were reported and no structures were threatened.
County fire officials remind homeowners to keep brush clear from around their properties to allow for “defensible space” against a fire. For more information, see the county fire web site at www.sbcfire.com.
San Luis Obispo
Motorcycle officer ejected from bike
A California Highway Patrol officer was injured after he was ejected from his patrol motorcycle in a collision Tuesday.
Officer Rex Mohun complained of pain to his hips but was not taken to a hospital, according to San Luis Obispo police.
Mohun was driving his motorcycle behind a 1997 Subaru Legacy south on Santa Rosa Street around 1:30 p.m., police said. Stephanie Ann Elwell Mulroony, 57, of Cambria was driving the Subaru.
Witnesses told police a small white dog ran across the street near Oak Street, causing traffic to suddenly stop, police said. When Mulroony applied her brakes, Mohun struck the Subaru from behind and he was thrown from the motorcycle.
Mulroony complained of pain to her neck, back and shoulders and was taken to French Medical Center. Her condition was not available Tuesday.
Santa Maria
Man walks away from Hwy. 166 crash
A Santa Maria man apparently survived a wreck without injuries Tuesday morning after losing control of a car on Highway 166 about two miles west of Santa Maria.
Shawn C. Kahn, 26, was driving a white 1990 Lexus that overturned off the road and slammed into a pole, breaking the pole in half, but he reported no injuries, a California Highway Patrol report said.
Kahn was driving the Lexus east on 166 around 11 a.m. when, for unknown reasons, he lost control and drifted onto the south shoulder, the report said. Kahn overcorrected to the left and crossed both lanes, struck a ditch, rolled and hit the pole.
No other vehicles were involved.
San Luis Obispo
Murder suspect found in motel
A Las Vegas homicide suspect who was found unconscious in a San Luis Obispo motel remained hospitalized Tuesday.
Jill Rockcastle, 49, was admitted to the intensive care unit at Sierra Vista Medical Center, according to a statement from the San Luis Obispo Police Department. Her condition was not available Tuesday evening.
Rockcastle is wanted by Las Vegas police in connection with the death of her husband, William Gustafik, The Associated Press reported. Gustafik was found stabbed to death in a Las Vegas condominium Friday, reports said.
On Monday, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officials notified San Luis Obispo police that Rockcastle was at Petit Soleil Motel, 1473 Monterey St. They also warned she was suicidal, according to a police statement.
Officers found the woman unconscious in one of the rooms Monday afternoon.
San Luis Obispo
Caltrans to honor workers killed on job
The local office of Caltrans is holding a worker memorial ceremony today to honor personnel who were killed while working on state highways.
The annual remembrance takes place during the statewide Worker Memorial Day, officials said.
The event is slated for 1:30 p.m. at the Caltrans District 5 office, 50 Higuera St., in San Luis Obispo.
Since 1924, 166 Caltrans employees have been killed while at work. The names of these workers are included on a memorial plaque in the lobby of Caltrans headquarters in Sacramento.
Officials say the biggest hazard to Caltrans employees is drivers who are not cautious while driving through construction zones.
Buellton
Technicians to offer free car seat checks
Car seat checkups will be provided free Saturday at an event by the Child Passenger Safety Coalition of Santa Barbara County.
Technicians who completed a 40-hour child car seat technician training course will provide the free checkups at the parking lot of Albertsons and Longs Drugs at 222 East Highway 246 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Anyone interested is encouraged to bring their car owner's manual, car seat manual and children, if possible. The checkups will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
- From staff reports
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