A high school track athlete, Michael Ochsner, passed away in a tragic car accident.
Michael Ochsner was a junior cross-country runner at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, California.
During the 2024 season, he achieved personal records in multiple events, including an impressive 11:31.7 in the 1.9-mile race at the Ojai Invitational, where his team placed in the Southern Channel.
He also ran a season-best 18:47.0 in the 3-mile race at the Santa Barbara County XC Meet and recorded a personal record 20:55.3 in the 5,000 meters at the Gaucho Invitational.
Over the past three seasons, he consistently improved his times across various distances.
Michael Ochsner Died From Injuries Suffered In A Tragic Accident
Michael Ochsner, 17, along with Dos Pueblos High School’s senior Jake Curtis, 18, and sophomore Alexander Wood, 15, died on Sunday, May 18, 2025, from injuries suffered in a vehicle collision.
Shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday, personnel from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, California Highway Patrol, and other agencies were dispatched to a four-vehicle crash on Highway 1 near San Julian Road.
The CHP Buellton Office, which is investigating the accident, said that a 2007 Toyota Yaris traveling southbound entered the northbound lane and struck a 2024 Tesla Model 3 head-on.
That crash caused the Tesla to collide with another vehicle, a 2012 Audi Q5 traveling southbound.
One of the involved vehicles also hit a 2002 Honda Accord traveling southbound.
As per the source, Michael, Jake, and Alexander were returning from lifeguarding in Jalama.
Both occupants of the Tesla were transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital with major injuries.
The CHP identified them as Lompoc residents Hafez Nasr and Saghar Golpayegani.
Laura Capps, chair of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, is planning to honor the families of those who died at the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting.
Dos Pueblos High School principal Bill Woodard issued a statement to the Goleta High School community saying,
“We want to extend our utmost sympathy to the family and friends of these three students. To support our school community, we have set up a compassion center today in our Wellness Center where grief counselors and partners from the Santa Barbara Response Network will be available to support our school community along with expert support.”
Bill Woodard
Woodard also said that any student or staff member can come to the Wellness Center anytime if they need support or want to be with others during this difficult time.
The services will remain available for any student as needed in the coming days. Woodard added,
“In my message to the DP students, I asked them to honor our students’ memory by striving to be extra-kind and compassionate, especially to those who are struggling with the loss of their friend and student,” “The DPHS community is close-knit and supportive, and I thank you all for keeping us and the family and friends impacted in your thoughts.”
Bill Woodard
High School Track Athlete Michael Oschner Is Survived By His Family Paul And Colleen Oschner.
Michael Osner’s parents are mourning the tragic loss of their young son.
Although his parents have stayed out of the media spotlight, they have always supported him in achieving his athletic dreams.
According to the reports, he is also survived by his family members, Paul Oschner, and Colleen Oschner.
Paul lives in Grand Junction, Colorado, and attended Doe Pueblos Senior High School. Colleen also attended Dos Pueblos Senior High School.
Close ones and relatives have poured their heartfelt condolences and sent prayers to Michael’s family to stay strong in this heartbreaking moment.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- According to the athletic director of Dos Pueblos, Jake Curtis was a varsity swimmer who swam for four years at Dos Pueblos. Alexander was recently voted “most inspirational” by his teammates this year.
- The investigation into this fatal collision is ongoing, and anyone with information is requested to contact the Buellton Area CHP office at 805-691-6160.
- Highway 1 was closed in both directions following the accident for some time, but has since been reopened.
