An 83-year-old man died and a 27-year-old man was arrested after a head-on collision between a pickup and sport utility vehicle Friday night on Betteravia Road, east of Highway 101 in the Santa Maria Valley.
Santa Maria resident Walter Williams, the driver of the Chevy pickup, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, authorities said.
Chevy Blazer driver Jose Gonzalez of Santa Maria was arrested because California Highway Patrol officers suspect he was driving under the influence of alcohol, according to a CHP report.
About 9:30 p.m. Friday, Gonzalez was westbound on Betteravia when his vehicle crossed the center line into the opposing lane of traffic, directly into the path of Williams' eastbound vehicle, the CHP said.
Williams had no time to react, and the left front end of the Blazer struck the left front end of the pickup, causing both vehicles to spin in separate directions, the CHP said.
Williams, who was wearing his seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Santa Barbara County and Santa Maria city fire crews spent about 15 minutes extricating Gonzalez from the SUV. Gonzalez, who the CHP said wasn't wearing his seat belt, was taken by helicopter to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, county fire Capt. Eli Iskow said.
Gonzalez was listed in serious condition in the hospital's Intensive Care Unit, a nursing supervisor said Saturday afternoon.
A 14-year-old boy in Gonzalez' vehicle got out without assistance. The teen was taken to Marian Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries, and later released, officials said. The CHP said the boy was wearing a seat belt.
May 11, 2008
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