Two teens killed in head-on collision

ERIC LINDBERG
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

Two local teenagers were killed and three others suffered serious and minor injuries in a head-on collision between a BMW and a SUV on Calle Real west of Glen Annie Road yesterday evening, authorities said.
The driver of the BMW, identified as David Ramirez, 18, of Goleta, and the left rear passenger in the SUV, Juan Alvarez, of Santa Barbara, were taken to Cottage Hospital and pronounced dead after lifesaving techniques failed, County Sheriff's Spokesman Sgt. Erik Raney said.

"Two other victims from the SUV were transported to Cottage Hospital," Sgt. Raney said, adding that their conditions are serious but not life-threatening.
Sheriff's deputies arrested one of those victims, Alvarez' 23-year-old sister, Anna Marie, on suspicion of driving under the influence, Sgt. Raney said.
"The investigation revealed that she was over the legal limit for blood-alcohol content," he said. "...That does not, however, mean that she was the cause of the accident. We're still looking into the possibility that the BMW was passing another vehicle."
Witnesses reported seeing another person fleeing the scene, and Sheriff's Sgt. Greg Nordyke confirmed that a fifth victim, a passenger in the SUV, had been interviewed and sustained only minor injuries in the crash.
The accident occurred on Calle Real near Mendocino Drive in Goleta at around 11:30 p.m., authorities said. Upon arrival, firefighters quickly extinguished a fire in the SUV and worked to extricate Ramirez from the BMW with hydraulic rescue tools known as the Jaws of Life, County Fire Capt. Eli Iskow said.
"The kid was extremely entangled," Capt. Iskow said," so they had to be very careful not to harm him further."
Sgt. Nordyke said the investigation is still in its preliminary stages and that the circumstances of the crash are still being worked out.
"Some of these investigations can take quite some time," Sgt. Nordyke said.
Witnesses reported seeing the BMW pass a white pickup truck or minivan while traveling west on Calle Real just before colliding with the SUV in the eastbound lane, authorities said.
"Sheriff's accident investigators would like to speak to the driver of the white vehicle the BMW reportedly passed prior to the collision," Sgt. Raney said. "Information from that vehicle's occupants could prove valuable in this investigation."
Anyone with information about the accident is asked to contact the Sheriff's Department at 681-4100.