Five Teens Killed in Santa Maria Crash, DUI Possibly Involved

SANTA MARIA, CA – Five teenagers are dead and one man remains hospitalized after a single-vehicle crash in Santa Maria that authorities say may have involved alcohol and speeding, marking one of the deadliest traffic accidents in Santa Barbara County in recent memory.

The Santa Maria Police Department on Tuesday identified the five killed as Isabella “Bella” Star Vigil, 16; Nicolas Munoz-Gautreaux, 17; Jennifer Gutierrez, 19; Guendi Beatrice Gamez Escalante, 16; and Yusbeli “Ava” Diaz Galvez, 17.

The crash occurred at approximately 1:40 a.m. Sunday at the intersection of South Broadway/Highway 135 and South Miller Street. The sedan carrying the six occupants struck a traffic signal pole at high speed, splitting the vehicle apart on impact. Four of the teenagers were pronounced dead at the scene. A fifth was transported to the hospital, where she later died from her injuries.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident, our attorneys in Los Angeles are available for a free and confidential consultation.

Survivor of the Santa Maria Accident

The lone survivor, Aurelio Calixtro Matias, 24, remains hospitalized with critical injuries. Police have not said whom they believe was driving, and no arrests have been made.

Authorities said alcohol may have been a factor in the crash and that investigators were also looking into reports the vehicle had been speeding. The case remains under investigation by the Santa Maria Police Department Traffic Bureau.

Santa Barbara County Fourth District Supervisor Bob Nelson, whose district covers the crash area, opened Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting with a moment of silence for the victims. “While loss of life is tragic, and when the loss of life is of someone so young and so many, it’s a sober reminder of the fragility of life,” Nelson said.

Authorities confirmed that some of the teens had ties to Santa Maria Joint Union High School District and Lompoc Unified School District campuses. Jennifer Gutierrez, the eldest of the five, died three weeks before her 20th birthday.

A roadside memorial has grown at Orcutt Road and Ocotillo Avenue, just west of the crash site. Along with flowers, candles, and photographs, mourners have left empty alcohol bottles at the memorial — a detail that has prompted debate among community members on social media.

If Your Family Has Been Affected by a DUI Crash

Losing a child — or several children — to a suspected drunk driving crash raises questions that families shouldn’t have to navigate alone. California law gives surviving family members the right to pursue compensation for their losses, and those claims operate independently of whatever the criminal system does or doesn’t produce.

At J&Y Law, we handle personal injury and wrongful death cases on contingency, which means our clients pay nothing unless we recover on their behalf. If you’ve lost someone in a crash involving a suspected impaired driver, our team can help you understand your options and what the civil process actually looks like for families in your position. Contact us for a free consultation.