Michael James Culligan, Involuntary Manslaughter, California 2022

A Lompoc man has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for causing a fatal car accident near Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Micheal James Culligan, 30, of Lompoc, pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter in a federal court. The incident occurred on June 16, 2020, at approximately 12:30 p.m., when Culligan drove a stolen 2019 Jeep Wrangler on Vandenberg Air Force Base property.

According to his plea agreement, Culligan veered onto the right shoulder and then swerved into the oncoming lane of traffic, colliding head-on with a blue Lexus sedan. The crash killed the driver of the Lexus and seriously injured its passenger.

Culligan fled the scene, but was later found hiding in a drainpipe. He admitted to using illegal narcotics before operating the Jeep and during his post-arrest interview.

Culligan has been in federal custody since June 2020 and is facing a statutory maximum sentence of eight years in federal prison.

United States District Judge André Birotte Jr. has scheduled a January 7, 2022 sentencing hearing. The United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations investigated this matter with the assistance of the California Highway Patrol and Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorney Joseph D. Axelrad is prosecuting this case. The incident highlights the dangers of driving under the influence and the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions.

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