The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the identity of the foreign student who was fatally injured yesterday, March 30, 2018, at approximately 1:20 a.m. in a traffic collision at the intersection of Hollister Avenue and Storke Road in the City of Goleta.  The decedent is 19-year-old Justine Van Ginderachter of Belgium, who was living in Santa Barbara as part of the Education First Program.  Next of kin has been notified.

The decedent was not wearing a seat belt and was a passenger in an Uber that collided with another vehicle in the intersection.  Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be a factor and both drivers are cooperating with the investigating deputies.

The Sheriff’s Major Accident Response Team is investigating the incident to determine the events that led to the fatal collision.  Anyone who witnessed this collision or has any information to assist investigators is asked to please contact Senior Deputy Jeff Farmer at 805-961-7514 or send him an email to jlf3077@sbsheriff.org.  To leave an anonymous tip, please call 805-681-4171 or go to  https://www.sbsheriff.org/anonymoustips.html.