An 18-year-old Dos Pueblos High School senior, Jake Curtis, died on May 18, 2025, in a devastating car accident on Highway 1 near San Julian Ranch, north of Gaviota in Santa Barbara County.
The tragic accident took the lives of two other young high school students, Michael Ochsner, 17, and Alexander Wood, 15, on the evening of Sunday, let alone Jake Curtis.
The three teens, who were also Santa Barbara County lifeguards, were returning from a lifeguard training course at Jalama Beach when tragedy struck.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), 18-year-old Jake Curtis was driving a 2007 Toyota Yaris southbound when the vehicle crossed the northbound lane and collided head-on with a 2024 Tesla Model 3.
The impact caused the Tesla to hit a 2012 Audi Q5 and a 2002 Honda Accord, both traveling southbound.
All three teens in the Toyota: Jake Curtis, a 17-year-old; Michael Ochsner, a 15-year-old; and Alexander Wood suffered fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene.
The two occupants of the Tesla, 54-year-old Hafez Nasr and 53-year-old Saghar Golpayegani, both from Lompoc, were seriously injured and taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
Whereas, the drivers of the Audi and Honda, both teens from the area, sustained minor injuries.
Meanwhile, the CHP is still investigating why the Toyota entered the northbound lane. Lieutenant Jason Bronson, Buellton Area Commander, called the incident a tragedy, stating,
Local families have lost loved ones. We grieve with them and work every day to prevent this loss of life in our communities.
Jason Bronson
The three students were well-known at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta.
Jake Curtis Was A Dedicated Varsity Swimmer At Dos Pueblos High School!
A senior and a varsity swimmer, Jake Curtis, competed all four years at Dos Pueblos High School.
Specializing in sprint and distance events, he competed in meets like the Mt. Sac Winterfest Championship and Mt. Sac Meet of Champions in 2023 and 2024, achieving personal bests in the 50-yard freestyle (28.80 seconds), 100-yard freestyle (1:01.67), and 100-yard breaststroke (1:25.08).
In the 2023-2024 season, he ranked 9th on his team and 242.20 in the USA High School power index, showing steady improvement from his 13th team ranking the previous year.
Beyond swimming, Jake was a dedicated Santa Barbara County lifeguard, serving the community with a focus on public safety.
Michael Ochsner, a junior, was a junior varsity cross country and track athlete, loved by his teammates. Alexander Wood, a sophomore, played junior varsity water polo and swam, recently earning the title “most inspirational” from his team.
The loss has deeply affected the close-knit Dos Pueblos community. Principal Bill Woodard shared a heartfelt message, saying,
We want to extend our utmost sympathy to the family and friends of these three students.
Bill Woodard
Santa Barbara County officials also expressed their sorrow, noting the teens’ dedication as lifeguards who worked to keep others safe.
Laura Capps, chair of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, planned a moment of silence at the Board’s meeting on May 20 to honor Jake, Michael, and Alexander.
She said:
We are heartbroken by the tragic accident that took the young lives of three incredibly special people. They chose to spend their time working for our County to protect others an extraordinary commitment at such a young age.
Laura Capps
Meanwhile, details surrounding Jake Curtis’ funeral services remain unknown as his family grieves in private.
During this difficult time, we would like to offer our heartfelt condolences to all three teens’ parents, friends, and extended family.
Rest Easy, Jake Curtis, Michael Ochsner, and Alexander Wood!
