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SANTA BARBARA, CA - 12/11/2007 - The large Christmas tree ensconced at 1300 State Street had a close call last Friday (12/7/07) after being struck by a luxury coupe driven by an impaired driver. At 12:50 a.m. police responded to a call of a traffic collision in the 1300 block of State Street. The driver, Linda Teague Goggin, age 66, was on the curb being attended to by a witness. Her 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII was smashed into the iron sleeve that serves as a tree stand for the 50 foot Christmas tree. The vehicle sustained major damage; however, the tree
appeared unscathed. Police determined that Goggin had been driving south on State Street. As she approached the Christmas tree covered with lights, she apparently became confused. She didn’t see the tree, and believed the lights were strung between the buildings. She drove smack through a ring of white traffic cones before colliding with the tree dead-center. Officer Chris Ortega, who serves as SBPD’s DUI enforcement expert, noticed that Goggin was disoriented and exhibited symptoms of being under the influence of a drug or medication. Goggin was arrested for driving while under the influence. Fortunately, the
tree appears able to continue service throughout the holiday season.
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