The fatal collision occurred on westbound Highway 126, also known as Telegraph Road, west of Pyle Road at approximately 9:05 a.m., based on CHP reports. The incident was initially described as involving a car and a work truck.
Ventura County, CA – A 61-year-old Modesto woman was killed, and two other people were injured following a two-vehicle crash on Highway 126 west of Fillmore on the morning of February 16, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The fatal collision occurred on westbound Highway 126, also known as Telegraph Road, west of Pyle Road at approximately 9:05 a.m., based on CHP reports. The incident was initially described as involving a car and a work truck.
According to authorities, the Modesto woman was riding in a Tesla driven by a 60-year-old man, also from Modesto. The pair had been traveling eastbound on Highway 126 when, for unknown reasons, their vehicle veered across the highway into the westbound lanes. The Tesla then collided with a Ford work truck operated by a 38-year-old man from Simi Valley. Both vehicles came to rest on the right shoulder of westbound Highway 126.
The 61-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The 60-year-old Tesla driver sustained major injuries and was airlifted to Ventura County Medical Center for treatment. The driver of the Ford work truck suffered minor injuries and was transported to a hospital by ambulance. All three individuals involved were adults.
The cause of the Ventura County crash remains under investigation. The CHP stated that neither alcohol nor drugs appeared to be factors in the collision. However, authorities noted that it was raining at the time of the crash and the roadway was wet.
Emergency crews from Ventura County Fire responded to the scene along with the California Highway Patrol. A helicopter was summoned to assist with medical transport, and the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office was called shortly before 10:30 a.m. after the crash was deemed fatal.
The collision led to lane closures on Highway 126 during the emergency response and subsequent investigation. Eastbound lanes reopened shortly before 1:30 p.m., while the remaining lanes were reopened at approximately 3:10 p.m., impacting traffic in the area for several hours.
The incident remains under active investigation by the California Highway Patrol.
Crash Statistics
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), there were 45 traffic fatalities reported in Ventura County in 2022. Statewide, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that California recorded 4,428 traffic fatalities in 2022, reflecting ongoing roadway safety concerns.
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