3 Teens Killed in Crash Highway 1, Near Lompoc in Santa Barbara County
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (May 20, 2025) — Three teens are dead, two others have major injuries after a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 1 near Rancho San Julian Sunday night near Lompoc.
The four-vehicle collision occurred just after 6 p.m. on May 18th, between Lompoc and Gaviota in Santa Barbara County, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
Toyota and Tesla in Head-on Crash
Jake Curtis, 18, of Goleta, and his two passengers were traveling southbound in a 2007 Toyota Yaris. For unknown reasons, the car entered the northbound lanes and collided head-on with a 2024 Tesla Model 3, occupied by Hafez Nasr, 54, and his passenger.
Next, the Tesla collided with a southbound 2012 Audi Q5, then one of those vehicles also hit a driver in a southbound 2002 Honda Accord.
3 High School Students Killed in Lompoc Crash
The violent crash left all three occupants of the Toyota dead. The Santa Barbara County Coroner’s Office identified them as Jake Curtis, and his two passengers, Michael Ochsner, 17, and Alexander Wood, 15, of Santa Barbara. All three were students at Dos Pueblos High School.
2 in Tesla Suffer Major Injuries
Meanwhile, the Tesla driver, Hafez Nazr, and his passenger, Saghar Golpayegani, 53, of Lompoc, both survived with major injuries. Golpayegani was airlifted to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, and Nazr was taken there by ambulance.
Also, the Audi driver, Luke Karmen, 16, and the driver in the Honda, Daniel Switzer, 17, both of Santa Barbara, survived the crash with minor injuries.
Highway 1 Lompoc Crash Investigation
The crash prompted a response from firefighters and the Buellton California Highway Patrol (CHP), as well as Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office deputies.
Finally, investigators continue to work on the case and are asking anyone with more information to contact them at the Buellton Area CHP office at (805) 691-6160.
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Johnson Attorneys Group is a personal injury law firm serving clients who are injured in California due to a negligent motorist. If you would like to contribute any information or have LEGAL QUESTIONS for a potential case, please call 1-(800) 208-3538 as soon as possible. Our personal injury law firm is a proud, longtime supporter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
