SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown has released a statement, saying that he disagrees with an attorney who said Tuesday that Santa Barbara County and a Sheriff's Deputy are to blame for a deadly 2009 crash.
Police say Richard Rodriguez was driving the wrong way on Highway 101 at Fairview Avenue in Goleta in November 2009 and almost hit a deputy's car.
When the deputy went to find him, he saw Rodriguez crash with an oncoming vehicle. The deputy helped the victim.
Sheriff Brown says the deputy did not violate department policy.
At the time of the accident, police say Rodriguez had a blood alcohol content of .22, nearly three times the legal limit. Rodriguez also has cocaine and marijuana in his system.
