Car plunges off Old San Marcos Road

ERIC LINDBERG
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

A local teen suffered a broken collarbone and fractured neck after his Volvo plunged 250 feet down a steep hillside from Old San Marcos Road early this morning.
Search and rescue workers extricated and airlifted Daniel Hopkins, 17, of Santa Barbara, after his mother called in to report the accident, California Highway Patrol officials said.

At 4:50 a.m., CHP dispatch received a call from Hopkins’ mother, who told authorities her son had called via cell phone saying he had crashed on Old San Marcos Road, CHP Spokesman Don Clotworthy said.
When emergency responders arrived on the scene, they could not initially spot the Volvo S40 sedan due to heavy brush. After Hopkins used his cell phone to guide them to his location, rescue workers set up a rope rescue system and sent two firefighters down to assess the situation, County Fire Capt. Eli Iskow said.
“Due to the thick brush, it was decided to use a helicopter hoist-rescue to extricate the victim,” Capt. Iskow said in a press statement.
After lowering a rescue basket with a firefighter, fire crews hoisted the injured teenage out of the wreckage and heavy brush, later transporting him by ambulance to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
“He is still being evaluated by medical personnel and any long-term effect of these injuries is not known at this time,” Clotworthy said in a press advisory. “However, his injuries are not considered life-threatening. The Volvo was completely destroyed.”
Clotworthy said Hopkins had his seatbelt secured, “without a doubt” saving his life. Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the accident and said alcohol and drugs are not involved.