24-year-old Gabriel Esquivel from Oxnard was arrested and charged following the collision.
Ventura, CA – Authorities identified the two cyclists who died in a suspected DUI collision that happened last week on Pacific Coast Highway in Ventura.
Kellie Standish, 33, from Bend, Oregon, and William Tucker, 39, from Ventura, died from injuries sustained in the accident.
24-year-old Gabriel Esquivel from Oxnard was arrested and charged following the collision.
According to investigators, at around 7:08 p.m. on June 11, 2026, Standish, Tucker, and a third person were all riding their bicycles in the designated bike lane on Pacific Coast Highway near Solimar Beach Road. At the same time, Esquivel was driving a Nissan Titan truck northbound on PCH at about 50-55 mph when he veered right and collided with the three cyclists.
After hitting the cyclists, the truck continued northbound and slammed into a guardrail before coming to rest on the shoulder.
One of the cyclists died at the scene, and another was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
The third bicyclist was hospitalized with minor-to-moderate injuries.
Police officers determined that Esquivel was driving under the influence of alcohol and arrested him at the scene. The driver has since been charged with two counts of second-degree murder, DUI causing injury, driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.008% of higher causing injury, and driving with a suspended/revoked license.
Original Story
Ventura, CA – Two bicyclists were killed, and another was injured following a collision involving a suspected drunk driver along Pacific Coast Highway in Ventura on Thursday evening, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The incident happened at about 7:08 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, on northbound State Route 1 near Solimar Beach Road.
Investigators said a gray Nissan Frontier pickup truck was traveling northbound at approximately 50 to 55 mph when, for some reason, it veered onto the right shoulder and entered the designated bicycle lane. The pickup struck three bicyclists from behind before continuing northbound, crashing into a metal guardrail, and coming to rest on the shoulder.
One bicyclist suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. A second cyclist sustained major injuries and was transported to Ventura County Medical Center, where he later died. The third bicyclist suffered minor to moderate injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment. The identities of the cyclists have not yet been released pending notification of their families.
According to CHP investigators, alcohol impairment was determined to be a factor in the deadly collision.
Authorities said the driver, a 24-year-old Oxnard man, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.
State Route 1 was shut down in both directions at Solimar Beach Road for approximately four hours while authorities examined the scene and recovered the vehicle.
The crash remains under investigation, and CHP is asking anyone who witnessed the collision or has relevant information to contact the Ventura Area office.