Wesley M Gordon

A truck pulling a trailer carrying gravel from Santa Ynez to Santa Barbara crashed into a home near State Street, just before 7 a.m. today, killing two adults and a 7-year-old boy.

Authorities, with the help of a search and rescue dog, found the bodies.

The California Highway Patrol identified the driver of the vehicle as Joaquin Garcia Morales, 61, of Oxnard.

Morales, authorities said, owned the truck but rented a trailer in Santa Ynez early this morning. Shortly after loading the gravel at the quarry, Morales reported that he was experiencing brake problems.

As he was going down the hill on Highway 154, authorities said, witnesses said they saw smoke coming from the truck.

Once he exited Highway 154, Morales attempted to turn away from a nearby restaurant and the Hope Ranch Inn. He maneuvered a turn through a long driveway off State Street.

Traveling at about 45 miles per hour, Morales, authorities said, rear-ended two vehicles before crashing over an embankment. The truck fell down about 15 feet, authorities said.

Erasmo Zapien was up at Palapa Restaurant getting coffee for the victims when he saw the truck run through the parking lot and down onto the home.

"It was moving very fast," he said.

Zapien lived in a bedroom next to the family. He said they had been living in the unit for about a year because they needed a place to stay.

The unit had been there for many years according to Chuck Craig. He also lives in a unit near the accident.

"It sounded like a train accident," Craig said. "There were no braking sounds, no resistance."

He said once the truck hit two parked cars and then plowed into the bedrooms where the victims slept, it sounded like boxcars hitting each other.

Craig said he ran down to the truck to check on the driver. He had to break the back window open to get to Morales.

Craig said Morales was "shaken and bleeding" and left him alone to look under the truck for any of the victims.

Morales is currently being treated at a local hospital. Authorities said he has facial cuts and back pain.

The victims have not been identified.

The truck also knocked out power and caused a gas leak.

The truck, which is believed to have crashed into the bedrooms while the family slept, is still at the scene of the wreck.