The man killed in a single-vehicle rollover crash on Highway 101 south of Santa Maria was identified Sunday as Richard M. Edelen, 29, of Santa Maria.

Edelen was killed at about 6:10 p.m. Saturday of injuries suffered when the 2002 Ford Explorer he was driving overturned several times along northbound Highway 101, north of Solomon Summit, according to the California Highway Patrol. Edelen was pronounced dead at the scene.

Injured in the accident were Edelen's four passengers: Shannon Patarak, 26, of Santa Maria; Timothy Matakovich, 18, of Avila Beach; and two young girls, ages 1 and 6 years.

Patarak sustained minor lacerations, and Matakovich complained of pain to his neck, according to the CHP. The 6-year-old child had minor lacerations and the 1 year old had an abrasion on her head, the report noted.

All four were transported to Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria for treatment. An update on their condition was not available Sunday evening.

Edelen and Patarak were wearing seatbelts, and the two children were in safety restraints, according to the CHP report. The report did not specify whether Matakovich was wearing a seatbelt.

According to the CHP, Edelen was driving northbound when, for unknown reasons, he allowed his vehicle to drift into the center median. He then turned the SUV to the right and overcorrected, losing control of the vehicle, the CHP reported.

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The vehicle hit the asphalt curbing along the roadway's eastern edge and overturned several times before coming to rest on its side, blocking one of the traffic lanes, the CHP reported.

Witnesses at the scene told the CHP that the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed before the crash, and alcohol is suspected to be a factor in the accident, the CHP reported.

No further information was released pending toxicology reports.

April 14, 2008