A 73-year-old Solvang woman tragically died Wednesday night in a violent multi-vehicle accident on Highway 154 (San Marcos Pass Road) near Lake Cachuma. Authorities believe alcohol played a role in the September 15th crash, which involved five vehicles.
Around 8 p.m. Wednesday, Priscilla A. Susman, 54, was seen driving a 1996 Nissan Pathfinder erratically on Highway 54 toward the Santa Ynez Valley, near Lake Cachuma. Witnesses reported she made an illegal U-turn and began heading back toward Santa Barbara.
According to news reports, Susman's vehicle was seen weaving over double yellow lines and into oncoming traffic. Susman then sideswiped a 2006 Pontiac driven by Syrena M. Hernandez, 24, of Oxnard. Both vehicles spun out of control. Fortunately, Hernandez was not hurt.
Susman's Pathfinder, which ended up in oncoming traffic, was then struck by the 73-year-old Solvang woman driving a 1989 Saab, and then a 2005 Toyota Prius, driven by Linda J. Gaytan, 53, of Santa Ynez. A 2007 BMW, driven by Jay B. Fortman, 55, of Santa Barbara, reportedly struck Hernandez's Pontiac.
Susman suffered major chest trauma and was taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Despite being in critical condition, she was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
The 73-year-old Solvang woman, who was not identified, died in the crash. Gaytan and Fortman both suffered blunt force trauma injuries and were taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
Cause of the Highway 154 Crash
The CHP is investigating the cause of the multi-vehicle accident. However, if news reports are accurate, this crash was likely caused by Priscilla Susman, the suspected drunk driver of the Nissan Pathfinder.
Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Liability
Accidents such as this one, where numerous vehicles are involved, can be complex insurance matters. Insurance companies often try to transfer blame to other parties so that injured victims receive much less compensation than they are actually entitled to. In situations such as this September 15th crash, the family members of the woman killed and the two other injured victims would be well-advised to contact an experienced California car accident attorney who can help them protect their rights following this accident and hold the driver responsible for this crash accountable. A skilled attorney can assist the victims in understanding their legal options for pursuing compensation in a personal injury or wrongful death claim, and advise them of their best course of action in handling communications with insurance companies. As a general rule, after any accident resulting in injury, it is never a good idea to make a recorded statement with an insurance adjustor without first speaking to an attorney.
Sources: The Daily Sound, Santa Ynez Valley News, KEYT News, Santa Barbara Independent
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