The recent tragic accident in Santa Barbara in which a Gravel Truck similar to the ones that traverse Route 33 – Maricopa Highway – up to fifty times a day, six days a week, has everyone wondering if the same type of accident can happen here.
The answer is, “It can.” and “It has.” Attached are photos collected from various news sources of the Santa Barbara crash that destroyed a home and wiped out three members of the Leon family followed by numerous pictures of accidents that have already occurred right here on Route 33.
If you wonder why the “Stop the Trucks” coalition keeps on fighting, these tragic photos will tell part of the story.
![100824-fatal-crash-Santa-Barbara.grid-6x2[1]](http://www.ojaipost.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/100824-fatal-crash-Santa-Barbara.grid-6x21-150x150.jpg "100824-fatal-crash-Santa-Barbara.grid-6x2[1]")
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Yes, it can happen anywhere. There was the truck that illegally went over the Angeles Forest Highway where it is clearly posted NO TRUCKS, and over the Angeles Crest Highway to slam into a bookstore at the bottom of the highway in La Canada killing people as it ran through an intersection. There is a truck ramp in that city that the city decided needed to be beautified but the truck could have gone into it. In my lifetime, the same thing has happened at the same spot at least 3 times. The first time a truck came barreling down the Angeles Crest Highway and into the restaurant at the bottom of the hill. That’s when the truck ramp was put in. Truck ramps are ugly but it might be a solution….
This is unbelievably tragic. Thank you for working so hard to ensure that it never happens here in Ojai. Hwy 33 simply is NOT a road that gravel trucks can be safely on – I was on it over the weekend and my minivan barely fits in the lane. I can only imagine if I were to encounter a gravel truck in one of the several tunnels. Thank you for all your hard work and efforts – the entire community appreciates all that you do.