County Lines for September 10, 2007 Santa Maria Minor injures suffered in afternoon crash Two people suffered moderate injuries and two others required no medical treatment in a crash involving a van and an SUV about 1:50 p.m. Sunday on northbound Highway 101 just south of Santa Maria Way. The SUV (seen in the above photo) overturned, and two people had to be extricated from the wreckage with the “Jaws of Life” hydraulic tool, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. The two injured people were taken to Marian Medical Center, a fire department spokesman said. The California Highway Patrol is investigating, but no further information was available Sunday night. Northbound traffic slowed to a crawl for approximately 20 minutes while CHP officers closed the number two lane so the van could be loaded onto a tow truck. Santa Maria Stolen property leads to arrest Kevin Porter, 18, of Santa Maria and two juveniles were arrested early Sunday morning after they were caught with wallets and identification that had been stolen from unlocked vehicles, Santa Barbara County Sheriff's deputies said. Four males ran away when they saw deputies near the intersection of Lancaster Road and Downing Lane about 1 a.m., and three of them were detained, deputies said. A search of the three and their car turned up the stolen material. The owners of the wallets said they had just been stolen from their unlocked vehicles. The property was returned to them. Porter was arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property and booked into county jail. The two juveniles were arrested and released to their parents, according to a sheriff's department spokesman. Santa Maria Man stabbed by unknown attacker A 24-year-old Santa Maria man suffered three stab wounds to his upper back and shoulder Saturday, according to Sgt. Greg Carroll of the Santa Maria Police Department. Officers were called about 7:15 p.m. to Marian Medical Center, where they found Reynaldo Soto being treated for his wounds. He told officers that while he was waiting for a friend, an unknown man attacked him from behind with a large knife, then ran off toward the 1100 block of West Main Street. Guadalupe Train derailment brings evacuations Five railroad cars carrying automobile parts derailed at Ninth and Obispo streets in Guadalupe about 10:40 p.m. Sunday, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. There were no injuries and no hazardous materials were involved, but nearby residents were evacuated as a precaution. The derailment did cause a small fuel leak, a fire spokesman said. Guadalupe and county firefighters were at the scene, but no further information was available late Sunday night. - From staff reports |