SANTA BARABRA — A 19-year-old woman has turned herself into police in connection with a major-injury collision that occurred earlier this month in the 1500 block of Cliff Drive, police said.
Sophia Koch of Santa Barbara turned herself into police with the presence of her attorney Wednesday morning. Ms. Koch was arrested on suspicion of three felony charges, including driving under the influence causing injury, driving with a blood-alcohol level greater than .08 causing injury and vehicle theft, said Anthony Wagner, spokesman for the Santa Barbara Police Department.
The collision occurred around 1 a.m. May 7.
The initial investigation revealed a 2020 Range Rover was driving east of Cliff Drive at a high-rate of speed when it clipped a parked Volvo wagon and careened into a parked Scion sedan. Debris was strewn all over the roadway, as the collision caused the Scion to be hurled 160 feet down the road from where it was parked. The Range Rover rolled and struck several trees and a concrete retaining wall. The roof of the vehicle completely separated and was ejected down the road, Mr. Wagner said.
Ms. Koch and a female passenger, 20-year-old Maesyn Fitzgibbons, of Santa Barbara, suffered major injuries in the crash.
Ms. Fitzgibbons suffered from excessive blood loss, multiple broken bones and had a foot amputated as a result of the crash. A GoFundMe page account has been set up for her medical costs.
As of Friday, nearly $83,000 has been raised of the $100,000 goal. To donate, visit.gofundme.com/f/9nj769-75000.
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