Santa Maria
Far Western co-founder injured in crash
Far Western Tavern co-founder Clarence Minetti was hospitalized Friday after the SUV in which he was riding was struck head-on by another SUV on Betteravia Road.
The injuries suffered by 93-year-old Minetti and the drivers of the two vehicles were unknown at press time Friday night.
However, Officer Jerrad McCaslin of the California Highway Patrol said he expected all those involved to have broken bones.
“There was significant impact,” he said, estimating both vehicles were traveling close to 55 mph. “There was substantial head-on damage.”
McCaslin said Elvia Tello, 37, of Guadalupe, was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe behind a big-rig on West Betteravia Road at 2:28 p.m. when she tried to pass the rig across a double-yellow line near Brown Road.
Tello pulled directly into the path of an oncoming Jeep Cherokee driven by Santa Maria resident Irene Medina, 43, who tried to swerve her vehicle but struck the Tahoe head-on, McCaslin said.
The impact caused the Tahoe to sideswipe the big-rig, which then pulled over, he said. The big-rig driver, Jose Juan Santillan, 41, of Calexico, was not injured.
Minetti, who was a passenger in the Cherokee, had to be extricated using the Jaws of Life. All three victims were taken to Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria for treatment.
Santa Maria
Special Olympics games set for April
The annual Northern Santa Barbara County Special Olympics Harry Wood Area Games track and field competition is scheduled for April 9 at St. Joseph High School in Santa Maria.
The Area Games is the largest local competition with more than 100 athletes from Santa Maria and Lompoc preparing to compete. The competition has all the pageantry of the Olympic Games including the parade of athletes, opening ceremonies beginning at 9 a.m., closing ceremonies at 3 p.m., and an Olympic Village full of games and activities for athletes and visitors.
For more information, contact Rudy Gutierrez 925-0951, Ext. 353.
Orcutt
CHP, Scout hold Bike saftey fair
The California Highway Patrol and a local Boy Scout are teaming up today to educate the community on bicycle safety.
The Santa Maria office of the CHP and Lashton Papworth, who is working to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, will hold the free bike safety fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today next to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1219 Oak Knoll Road.
Included in the event will be safety talks, information booths, a safety quiz that earns a raffle ticket for prizes, and a bicycle safety course. Food will be available free of charge.
Los Padres
Officials close Sunset Valley Road
Sunset Valley Road is temporarily closed by Los Padres National Forest officials due to heavy rainfall, swollen and fast-moving creeks and streams, and a significant amount of debris.
The road, also known as Forest Road 8N09, leading into Davy Brown campground, is closed to the public until the weather clears and crews are able to safely review the extent of the damage, forest officials said Thursday. There will be no access to the Nira campground and San Rafael Wilderness trails from this area.
Forest visitors are encouraged to call the Santa Lucia Ranger District at 925-9538 for more detailed information about the closure and for the latest conditions.S
