A Santa Barbara man charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter in the recent death of a 15-year-old Lompoc girl said Wednesday that he wants to apologize to the girl’s mother for his involvement in the accident.

Shannon Salas, 35, said his memory of the Sept. 14 accident on Highway 1 north of Highway 101 is hazy. He said he can’t remember some of the details of the accident, and didn’t want to answer questions.

“I want to apologize for any wrongdoing on my side, even though I don’t know what it was,” Salas said in an emotional telephone conversation.

“I want my phone to be open to that woman for the rest of my life. Every day I have tears coming down because I know that woman is missing her child.”

Alyssa Miller, a Lompoc High School student-athlete, was buried Tuesday at Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery. About 200 people turned out for the ceremony.

Alyssa’s mother, Juanita Miller, suffered cuts and deep bruises that were still visible during the funeral. Salas and Miller were admitted to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

Salas said he empathizes with Miller because he is a parent as well. His youngest is a girl named Genesis Angel, who was born three weeks ago, he said.

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“I have a 3-week-old baby, too, and I can just imagine what (Miller is) going through. I feel pain, but I don’t know what her pain is.

“If she needs somebody to talk to. If she needs to talk to the other person involved ... I’m here if she wants to.”

Salas was charged with misdemeanor vehicle manslaughter without gross negligence. He was at fault in the accident, but the crash was unintentional, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

CHP Officer Steve Fulmer said Wednesday that Lilly Blancarte, 17, of Santa Barbara, who was riding with Salas, said Salas was looking for a cell phone when his car drifted into the other lane and smashed into Miller’s car and caught fire.

Salas said he would like to thank the man who pulled him and the girl from the car before it burned.

“I want to find out who saved our lives,” he said.

Salas said he recalled a man pulling him and the teen from the car, then returning and pulling him even farther from the car because of fear that it would burst into flames.

“That’s what I remember, but my memory is a little bit shaky.”

Fulmer said that Jose Almanza of Santa Barbara told investigators he was one of several passersby who helped pull the people from the car.

Almanza could not be reached for comment.

Miller said Wednesday she is reading the CHP report of the accident, and will consider calling Salas.

Bo Poertner can be reached at 737-1053 or bpoertner@lompocrecord.com.

September 25, 2008