Luke Ogburn, a second-year UC Santa Barbara student and IV Bagel Cafe employee, was critically injured on June 13 after falling from the bluff along Del Playa Drive in Isla Vista. He sustained extensive bodily trauma and remains in recovery.
Ogburn started attending UCSB in 2023 and is a biology major. Photo Courtesy of IV Bagel Cafe Facebook
According to a Facebook post from IV Bagel Cafe owner Doron Friedman, police contacted the cafe’s manager shortly after the incident to identify Ogburn. Medical staff transported Ogburn to an intensive care unit (ICU) to treat injuries including collapsed lungs, fractured pelvis and clavicle, facial and orbital fractures, a broken rib and deep lacerations.
This incident is the first reported bluff fall of 2025. The most recent previous incident occurred in April of 2024 and resulted in the death of one individual. 14 fatalities have occurred in the past 20 years as a result of falls from the bluff along Del Playa Drive, which ranges from 30 to 70 feet high.
Ogburn started attending UCSB in 2023 and is a biology major, according to his LinkedIn profile. Friedman described Ogburn as a “kind soul” and “beloved employee” at the cafe.
Friedman launched a GoFundMe page to support Ogburn’s medical fees and rehabilitation. The fundraiser has currently raised $6,455 of a $11,000 goal.
Additionally, IV Bagel Cafe hosted a fundraiser on July 9 and donated 50% of all sales to Ogburn’s recovery fund, raising $1460.
“Luke, we are thinking of you,” Friedman wrote on Facebook. “We believe in your strength. And we can’t wait to welcome you back.”
Another sad victim of climate change due to the policies of the Trump Administration and the unedecated republitard voters. Cliff erosion has been intensified due to the massive see level rise caused by emissions of greenhouse gasses such as carbon monoxide and gasoline, but right wing morrons of course would never now this
Let me see if I understand this, Brett. Trump has been in power about 6 months and his policies have already changed the climate enough to cause this tragic accident? Clearly, you are no climate scientist. Am I a climate change denier? Nope, but nonsense that you promote helps ensure that republicans will keep getting elected. Thank a lot, idiot.
Brett – your comment assumes that this tragedy was a result of the cliff giving way. Is that what happened? The story says he fell, which is usually the case on the bluffs. Nowhere does it say that this happened due to erosion or climate change. Most often it has to do with people ignoring the warnings and dangers of being on the edge of a cliff – such as climbing the now 6 foot fences that our board of supervisors decided would help to prevent such occurrences. Before you start down the political road, you should really find out… Read more »