In personal injury news, a Ventura County jury awarded more than $49 million in damages for a DUI accident that killed one man and seriously injured a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer. CHP officer, Anthony Pedeferri, will receive $39 million in damages for catastrophic injuries he suffered in the collision and the parents of Andres Parra, who was killed in the accident, will receive $10.2 million for the loss of their son. The drunk driving accident took place in December of 2007 on U.S. Highway 101, just north of Ventura. Pedeferri had pulled over Parra in what was a routine stop, when a truck driver slammed into them both. Parra was killed instantly and Pedefferi suffered catastrophic spinal cord injuries, which rendered him a quadriplegic. In 2008, the truck driver was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to driving under the influence and transporting marijuana.
Displaying all posts for ‘Ventura County Accidents’
Information and news on accidents and injuries in Ventura County, CA.
Ventura County Jury Awards $49 Million in Lawsuit Stemming from DUI Crash
Pedestrian Killed Monday While Walking Dog in Ventura
AUGUST 26, 2009 – A 60-year-old woman died after she was struck by a car while walking her dog near the Ventura County Fairgrounds, authorities said. Susan Herman of Casitas Springs was hit on Shoreline Drive west of Figueroa Street just after 6 p.m., according to Ventura police. Herman died about an hour later at Ventura County Medical Center, authorities said. Her dog, a mixed collie, died at the scene. The driver of the car, identified as a 16-year-old boy, remained at the scene and was questioned by investigators. The car was traveling westbound around a curve on Shoreline, authorities said, and the driver may not have seen Herman until it was too late. The area of the accident is near Surfers Point and the victim was believed headed for the beach. It’s unclear if she was in a crosswalk, investigators said. Excessive speed is not considered a factor, but the Ventura Police Department is continuing its investigation into the fatal pedestrian accident. View Larger Map
Pedestrian Killed, Two Injured in Collision Thursday in Santa Paula
AUGUST 24, 2009 – A 65-year-old woman died and two children were injured when they were struck by a pickup truck in Ventura County, authorities said. Emilia Ortega of Santa Paula and her two godchildren were crossing Harvard Boulevard at Laurie Lane in a crosswalk when they were struck about 3:30 p.m., according to Santa Paula police. Ortega died at the scene, according to the Ventura County Medical Examiner. Sergio Hernandez Jr., 8, and Jailine Hernandez, 10, were transported to Ventura County Medical Center with serious injuries, police said. The driver of the truck, identified as 81-year-old Lois Guynn of Ventura, did not appear to slow down prior to the collision, investigators said. Ortega and her godchildren had just left a local Kmart prior to the collision and were on their way to a restaurant, family members said. One witness told police the victims were halfway across the four-lane street when they were struck. No citations have been issued, but the Santa Paula Police Department is continuing its investigation into the pedestrian accident. View Larger Map
Motorist Killed Saturday Morning in Solo-Vehicle Crash in Simi Valley
AUGUST 16, 2009 – A 20-year-old man died when his vehicle veered off Highway 118 in Ventura County and landed in a Park and Ride lot, authorities said. Diego Barron of Upland was traveling east on Hwy 118 just west of Sycamore Drive shortly before 7 a.m. when he lost control of the vehicle, according to the California Highway Patrol. The car went off the freeway, through a perimeter fence and came to rest in the Park and Ride, authorities said. Barron was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Ventura County Medical Examiner. The CHP is continuing to investigate the fatal car accident. View Larger Map
Cook Seriously Burned When Car Crashed into Restaurant Saturday in Thousand Oaks
AUGUST 16, 2009 – A cook was hospitalized with serious burn injuries after a car driven by an elderly woman crashed into a hamburger restaurant where the victim was working, authorities said. The accident occurred about 10 a.m. at the Burger Express on Newbury Road, according to a captain with the Ventura County Fire Department. The woman was driving through the parking lot when she inadvertently stepped on the gas instead of the brake and crashed through the wall of the restaurant’s kitchen, authorities said. The unidentified cook was doused with hot oil from a deep fryer and sustained burns over 60 percent of his body. The victim was transported to Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center and later transferred to the Sherman Oaks Burn Center, authorities said. An elderly woman crashed her car into a salon in the same shopping center earlier this year. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the crash and will determine if the driver will be cited.
Motorcyclist Killed Monday in Apparent Road Rage Incident on Hwy 101 in Ventura County
AUGUST 11, 2009 – The California Highway Patrol is investigating an apparent road rage incident that killed a 57-year-old Ventura man. The incident began about 12:20 p.m. on the Conejo Grade of southbound Highway 101, according to the CHP. Witnesses told the CHP that Robert Kashdan was riding near Camarillo Springs Road when he pulled alongside a recreational vehicle going about 55 mph and flashed an obscene gesture, authorities said. He then pulled in front of the RV and abruptly braked in the right lane, causing the RV to slam into the back of the low-slung, custom motorcycle, the CHP said. Kashdan was ejected from the motorcycle and then run over. He was then dragged approximately 75 feet across the pavement, authorities said. The back tire and fender of the motorcycle were impaled on the front end of the RV and the bike remained upright through the crash. The driver of the 30-foot motor home, identified as 68-year-old Michael Antoine of Thousand Oaks, said he was unable to steer the motor home after the crash and proceeded another 500 feet before crashing into the center divider. A squad of Ventura County firefighters who were on their way to another crash came upon the accident site and discovered the motorcyclist did not have a pulse. Kashdan was declared dead at the scene, authorities said. Antoine was not suspected [...] Read more »
Elderly Man Struck and Killed by Train Saturday in Moorpark
AUGUST 8, 2009 – A 70-year-old man was struck and killed by an Amtrak train while walking on the tracks near his home, authorities said. Alfredo Aguilar, a longtime resident of the nearby Virginia Colony neighborhood, died at the scene of the train accident in the 14000 block of Avenida Colonia, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. Relatives told investigators that Aguilar had gone out for a walk about 11 a.m. and apparently fell on the tracks. He could not get up before the train arrived, authorities said. The train was traveling from Camarillo to Simi Valley with 190 passengers on board when the collision occurred. Nobody on the train was injured and the tracks were re-opened by 2 p.m. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the train collision. View Larger Map
Two Injured in Head-On Crash Friday Morning in Ventura County
AUGUST 8, 2009 – A head-on collision in Oak Park sent two motorists to the hospital with serious injuries, authorities said. The crash occurred shortly before 9 a.m. on Deerhill Road, just east of Alexandra Court, according to the California Highway Patrol. A sports-utility vehicle traveling south on Deerhill collided with a northbound vehicle, authorities said. Investigators were trying to determine which car crossed into opposite lanes. The impact pushed one car into the driveway of a residence. The driver of the car sustained a broken arm and the driver of the SUV a laceration to his head, authorities said. The CHP is investigating the head-on collision.
Motorist Killed Thursday Morning in Oxnard Crash on Hwy 101
AUGUST 6, 2009 – A 43-year-old professor at Oxnard College died in a solo-vehicle accident off Highway 101, authorities said. Joe Escobar of Ojai was identified as the driver who lost control and struck a palm tree on the right shoulder, just north of Rose Avenue, according to the Ventura County medical examiner’s office. Escobar was traveling southbound in the fast lane on Hwy 101 when his vehicle suddenly hit the center divider and then veered across all three lanes and into the tree shortly after 7 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol. The vehicle struck the tree on the driver’s side and was partially wrapped around the tree when emergency personnel arrived. Escobar was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. The CHP is seeking witnesses as part of its investigation the fatal Hwy 101 car accident. View Larger Map
Passenger Seriously Injured, Driver Arrested Following Collision Saturday Night in Ventura
AUGUST 5, 2009 – A woman was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after her car overturned, injuring a passenger, authorities said. Deanna Dickson, 47, of Oxnard was driving south on Highway 33 when she lost control about 11:15 p.m. while approaching Stanley Avenue, according to the California Highway Patrol. While trying to exit the highway, the driver hit an embankment, causing the vehicle to overturn. A passenger in the car, 45-year-old Debbie Hilf of Ventura, suffered major injuries and was transported to Ventura County Medical Center for treatment, authorities said. Dickson was uninjured. Neither woman was wearing a seat belt, officials said. The CHP is continuing to investigate the car accident. View Larger Map