Vehicle Pursuit Ends with Crash, Hwy 101 SB Lanes Closed for Inv - KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News

Vehicle Pursuit Ends with Crash, Hwy 101 SB Lanes Closed for Investigation

NEAR BUELLTON, Calif. -- Highway 101 Southbound lanes have been closed near Buellton after Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Deputies and CHP officers investigate an officer involved shooting.

The incident began around noon on Monday when a woman came home to her Los Alamos home and found what she described as a man trying to break into her home.

The woman called Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Deputies who arrived at the home to investigate.

Once they arrived, the suspect rushed into his car and took off.

Deputies followed the suspect and a pursuit followed onto Highway 101 lanes, in the opposite direction of travel.

That's when Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Deputies say the suspect flipped the car around and sped towards the Deputies head on.

A Sheriff's Deputy got out of his vehicle and shot at the suspect, killing him instantly.

Caltrans has closed all southbound lanes of Highway 101 are closed near Buellton and that traffic is being diverted onto Highway 154 and onto Avenue of the Flags in Buellton.

Northbound U.S. 101 remains open but motorists should expect delays during this incident. 

Caltrans has no estimated time of opening the southbound lanes.

Central Coast News has a crew on scene and will bring you the latest developments at www.kcoy.com