Ryan ChartrandCuesta College student Ian Ambrose, 23, died in a car accident on the Cuesta Grade Monday night, officials said.
Ambrose was in the passenger seat of a 1989 Toyota pickup driven by his brother, Alex. According to California Highway Patrol officials, the pickup made an “unsafe lane change” from the slow lane across two lanes around 9 p.m. and was struck from behind by another car while traveling north up the grade.
The truck reportedly rolled several times before coming to a rest in oncoming traffic and was struck by an SUV, fatally ejecting Ian Ambrose, who apparently was not wearing his seatbelt, from the car. Police said his 21-year-old brother suffered minor injuries.
The driver of the SUV was released from Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center later that night. The driver of the other car was uninjured.
Ambrose was a resident of Morro Bay and wanted to transfer to Cal Poly and study wine and viticulture.