Kristin Smart search update and a semi-truck crash: Today’s top stories
San Luis Obispo County saw major developments Tuesday across crime, transportation and local government. From new evidence in the Kristin Smart case to a $51 million public safety complex, here’s a roundup of the day’s top stories.
Here are key takeaways:
- Kristin Smart case update: Scientists found “very strong” evidence of decomposing human remains compounds in soil samples from a walkway on Susan Flores’ Arroyo Grande property, scientists say, though the Sheriff’s Office ended its search Saturday without recovering Kristin Smart’s body. Want to know more about the case? Check out our maps showing key locations.
- CHP identifies man killed in crash: Matthew Baumgardner, 48, of Paso Robles was killed when a Chevrolet Camaro veered off Nacimiento Lake Drive and struck a tree Sunday night. Driver Joseph Mitchell Pate, 44, was arrested on suspicion of DUI and sustained major injuries, while front passenger Mack Garcia suffered minor injuries.
- Big-rig crash on Highway 101: A portion of Highway 101 in Pismo Beach was closed overnight after a semi-truck hit the large arm of a piece of Granite Construction machinery around 10 p.m. The crash had diesel fuel pooling in portions of the road and forced an extended closure of the highway into Tuesday morning.
- Kid riding e-bike injured in collision: A 12-year-old riding an e-bike without a helmet was critically injured Saturday afternoon after colliding with a car near DeVaul Park in San Luis Obispo. The child has undergone multiple surgeries and was in stable condition at an out-of-area trauma center as of Tuesday.
- Local food truck carries on family legacy: Brittany Gonyer’s Wandering Eats food truck continues the legacy of The Crushed Grape, her mother’s former SLO wine and gift shop. Gonyer bought a parrot green ice cream trailer at auction for $20,000 in 2018 and pivoted to wraps after fire regulations made her original quesadilla cone concept unworkable.
- Highway 101 construction: Drivers will encounter overnight lane closures on Highway 101 between Pismo Beach and Arroyo Grande nightly from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. through May 15. Caltrans says one lane in both directions will remain open during the pavement rehabilitation and drainage project.
- New fire and police station: Pismo Beach cut the ribbon Monday on its new $51 million Public Safety Center combining police and fire services on Bello Street. The Fire Department’s new 14,000-square-foot station is expected to reduce response times by two to three minutes by housing personnel and vehicles together.
- Building height vote may happen in Grover Beach: A citizen-led initiative to limit building heights in Grover Beach collected 1,102 valid signatures, exceeding the 793 required for the November ballot. The City Council will decide June 8 whether to adopt the measure as an ordinance or send it to voters.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Kristin Smart search update and a semi-truck crash: Today’s top stories."