USPS Driver Injured in Truck Accident on West Main St in Santa Barbara County, CA
Santa Barbara County, CA — December 5, 2022, a USPS worker was injured when her delivery truck and an 18-wheeler collided on West Main Street in Santa Barbara County.
Authorities say the incident happened just before 3:50 p.m. along the 3500 block of West Main (Highway 166). Preliminary investigation suggests the mail worker was deliver mail on the west side of the highway near Guadalupe when she reportedly started to make a U-turn. As it turned the mail truck crashed with a semi-truck, then ran off the road.
The postal worker suffered serious non-life-threatening injuries in the crash. The big rig driver was unhurt.
The investigation continues. No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on USPS Truck Accident on Main St near Guadalupe
I've learned over the years that it's important to take preliminary crash reports, whether from the news or from police, with a grain or two of salt. That's not to insult the hard work police do, but rather to acknowledge that competing priorities and a lack of resources often force them to rush through their investigation and quickly fill out a report before moving on. If they're pressured to hustle through the crash and come to a "good enough" conclusion, important details and context might slip through the cracks.
Is it possible this really boils down to an ill-timed U-turn? Sure. Are there still too many loose ends and potential factors for anyone to reach conclusions right now? Almost certainly. To make sure the whole story is learned, I often recommend getting independent experts to have another look. At the very least the injured victim deserves to know someone investigated on her behalf--not USPS's or the state's, but hers specifically. If there are any other steps to take, they'd depend on what is learned.
