CHP officer airlifted to hospital after motorcycle crash on Highway 101
A California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer was airlifted to the hospital Thursday afternoon following a crash on Highway 101 south of Buellton, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
Firefighters and other emergency personnel were dispatched at about 2:15 p.m. to the crash scene in the southbound lanes about a half mile south of the Nojoqui Summit.
An AMR ambulance transported the officer, who suffered moderate injuries, to the nearby Highway 1 southbound off-ramp.
He was transferred to a CalStar medical helicopter and flown to Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, according to fire Capt. Scott Safechuck.
In a tweet Thursday afternoon, Safechuck said the officer was initially expected to go to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital but was instead taken to Marian due to weather in the South Coast area.
The victim’s name and details on his condition were not available.
CHP Motorcycle Officer Down: HWY 101 SB, 1/2 mile S. of Nojoqui Summit, North of Gaviota Tunnel, near the road construction area. Male Officer w/ moderate injuries, transported by ambulance to landing zone, then w/CalStar Helicopter to SB Cottage Hospital. CT2:19pm. pic.twitter.com/Sl9QjdgGor
— Scott Safechuck (@SBCFireInfo) February 29, 2024
Traffic in the area was shut down for a time following the crash.
Caltrans District 5 tweeted Thursday afternoon the No. 2 lane of southbound Highway 101 was closed north of the Nojoqui Summit due to the crash.
“Multiple hours lane closure in effect after traffic collision,” the agency wrote. “Please allow extra time for commute through the area.”
Noozhawk editor in chief Tom Bolton can be reached at tbolton@noozhawk.com.
