Gaviota pier in Calif. collapses in storm

GOLETA, Calif., March 3 (UPI) -- A storm Saturday brought wind and waves crashing against central California shores, causing damage along the coastline as it went, damaging roads and washing away beaches.

Damage has been spotted as far south as Malibu and as far north as Pismo Beach, near San Louis Obispo.

Although Goleta State Park, just up the coast from Santa Barbara, was evacuated, two workers were injured while trying to secure patio furniture at a restaurant at the base of the Goleta Pier when a rogue wave crashed through the restaurant.

"Our manager was actually washed out with the wave, went under the pier and was stuck under the pier," said David Hardy, owner of the Beachside Bar and Cafe.

The manager, who has not been otherwise identified, was able to get safely back to shore with the help of his coworkers, suffering a dislocated shoulder.

Meanwhile, the outer portion of the pier at Gaviota, a popular fishing spot further up the coast, was washed away by the storm early Saturday.

Calif. State Park rangers, who discovered the damage during a check early Saturday morning, estimated that about one-quarter of the pier is gone, ending at the boat hoist used to launch many fishing and surf boats.

“We are especially concerned about the low tide that is now coming in,” said Ranger Dustin Patterson “Once the level drops enough the surf will start pounding the outer pilings with more force than when the waves broke further onshore.”

Waves also washed the sand off the normally smooth beach, leaving large stones and bedrock exposed.

[KEYT] [Santa Barbara Independent]