California Highway Patrol

On May 10, 2010 at about 11:40 am, a major injury traffic collision involving four vehicles occurred on northbound US-101 south of State Beaches.

Lonnie Pendleton, age 53 of New Braunfels Texas, was driving a big rig truck (truck tractor/trailer combination) northbound on US-101 in the #2 lane south of State Beaches. Mark Powell, age 36 of Santa Maria, was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe and was stopped in heavy traffic in the #2 lane on northbound US-101 south of State Beaches. Carlos Figueroa, age 44 of Santa Barbara, was stopped in his 1995 Geo Metro directly ahead of Powell’s vehicle. Dean Gordon, age 48 of Buellton, was driving a white Chevrolet flatbed tow truck and was stopped in the #1 lane ahead of Figueroa’s vehicle. Traffic was backed up in the area due to a lane closure as construction crews were repairing a large hole in the roadway on northbound US-101 north of State Beaches.

As Pendleton traveled northbound on US-101 in the #2 lane, he suddenly traffic stopped ahead of him. He applied his brakes but could not stop in time to avoid a collision. The front end of Pendleton’s big rig truck struck the rear end of Powell’s vehicle. The force of that collision pushed Powell’s vehicle forward and it struck the rear end of Figueroa’s vehicle. Powell’s vehicle then veered left and struck the rear end of Gordon’s tow truck.

Pendleton and Gordon were not injured in the collision. Powell sustained facial abrasions and a broken tooth in the collision. Powell’s wife, Stacie age 33, complained of neck and back pain from the collision. The Powell’s two children, a two year old daughter and a 10 month old son, were both secured in car seats in the rear seat. The Powell’s son suffered a chest contusion and their daughter sustained facial contusions and possible foot fracture as a result of the collision.

The Powell’s were taken by ambulance to Ventura County Medical Center. Stacie Powell and both children were admitted to the hospital for observation. Figueroa and his passenger, Sandra Petatan age 28 of Santa Barbara, both complained of neck and back pain from the collision. They were taken by ambulance to Community Memorial hospital.

The collision is still under investigation.