Cambria siblings killed in crash, driver was victim’s boyfriend

July 16, 2015

A 20-year-old woman and her 11-year-old brother died in a crash Tuesday afternoon in which the woman’s longterm boyfriend plunged a pickup more than 200 feet off a cliff adjacent to Highway 46 West. [KSBY]

Patience Robbins, 20, and William Robbins, 11, were the oldest and youngest of five siblings. Patience Robbins’s boyfriend, 22-year-old Ismael Ochoa, survived the crash and is receiving treatment for undisclosed injuries at Sierra Vista hospital in San Luis Obispo.

Ochoa and Patience Robbins, both graduates of Coast Union High School, had been dating for seven years. They were moving into an apartment together in Atascadero and had just finished dropping off boxes at their new home.

On the way back to Cambria, Ochoa lost control of the vehicle. The crash occurred shortly before 4 p.m. about eight miles east of Highway 1.

Investigators do not suspect drugs or alcohol factored into the crash. Ochoa told CHP officers that he fell asleep at the wheel prior to losing control of the vehicle.

The pickup then began drifting toward the right shoulder, and Ochoa overcorrected, according to the CHP. The vehicle crossed all lanes and drove off the southern edge of the highway.

It came to a rest at the bottom of a steep canyon.

William Robbins was not wearing a seatbelt. The crash threw him from the truck.

The 11-year-old boy had attended Cambria Grammar school and was preparing to begin middle school. Patience Williams was attending Cuesta College and working at El Colibri Boutique Hotel in Cambria.

Their mother is a single mom who is struggling financially and must move out of a rental by the end of the week. A spokesperson says the family hopes to raise $20,000 for funeral and service arrangements.

A celebration of life ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Shame Park in Cambria. Those who wish to help the family are asked to contact Monica Soto at (805) 540-1245.