Six Students Die in SoCal Car Crash
Posted by
Chrissie ColeFebruary 20, 2009 4:34 AMTags:
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A fiery car crash claimed the lives of six people, including five foreign students, in Santa Barbara County on Thursday night.
The driver of the Toyota Land Cruiser, Jeanne Ostrowski, 19, was seriously injured in the accident and remains in critical condition at Marian Medical Center, the California Highway Patrol said.
The vehicle, traveling from Los Angeles to San Francisco, veered from the left lane of US Highway 101 into the center divider, about 140 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
According to a witness, it appears the driver over-corrected, causing the SUV to hit the median before zooming back across the lanes when the vehicle struck a tree, rolled over and burst into flames. The force of the crash ejected two passengers from the vehicle.
While officials have not released the identities of the other victims, pending family notification, they did confirm they were students of the Embassy Center for English studies in San Francisco.
Alcohol does not appear to be a factor. An investigation is being conducted by the CHP Coastal Division Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation Team based in San Luis Obispo.