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It’s the first week of summer and already June is gearing up to be one of the deadliest months for San Luis Obispo County drivers in recent memory.
There have been seven fatal accidents in the county since June 4, and other significant accidents not highlighted in the media, according to a spokesman for California Highway Patrol.
“I would not say this is typical, by any means, but generally we do see an increased volume of traffic this time of year,” said CHP Officer Bill Irons. “There’s a lot more cars on the road—kids out of school, people going on vacation—and it’s important for people to really pay attention out there.”
On June 4, a car rolled over on the Highway 101 onramp on Marsh Street in San Luis Obispo. That accident resulted in no significant injuries. Neither did another messy SLO rollover, where four teens ended up partially submerged in San Luis Creek after careening down a 20-foot embankment off San Luis Drive and California Boulevard. Only the driver sustained minor injuries to his leg in that accident.
Other recent accidents have ended much worse.
In the early hours of June 17, a car carrying four Northern California men flipped and rolled several times in Avila Beach after the four were allegedly seen drinking in downtown SLO. Two of the passengers, in their early 20s, were killed, and the driver could be facing second-degree murder charges.
Another accident on June 19 in Nipomo resulted in a Chevy Cavalier being ripped completely in half. Two passengers, including the driver, were killed in that wreck, and again, alcohol is believed to be a factor.
In the North County, four collisions have resulted in three deaths since June 9. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in at least one of those accidents.