CHP releases more information on solo-vehicle crash that killed SP man
December 24, 2010
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
The California Highway Patrol has released more information about the solo-vehicle accident that killed a 27-year-old Santa Paula man December 17 off Highway 150.
According to CHP Officer Steve Reid, the accident occurred at Summit Trail between Santa Paula and Ojai.
According to a CHP statement, Joseph Leon, 27, of Santa Paula, was driving a 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe from Santa Paula toward Ojai at about 1:30 a.m. on Highway 150 west of Dennison Park. There was light rain and the roadway was wet and Leon was driving “at an unknown high rate of speed” when he tried to go around a right-banking curve, near a residence at 7000 Ojai-Santa Paula Road/Highway 150.
Leon lost control of the Tahoe, which continued in a southerly direction toward an asphalt berm. The front of the SUV struck the berm and the Tahoe went airborne and was launched approximately 250 feet through the air. As the vehicle traveled through the air the front end of the Tahoe struck a water tower, then hit the asphalt driveway of 7000 Ojai-Santa Paula Road/Highway 150 and tipped over to the left.
Investigators found the left side of the Tahoe “scraped along the driveway in southerly direction toward a muddy shoulder and sandbags.” The Tahoe eventually tipped over to the right and came to rest on its wheels facing south.
Leon wasn’t wearing a seatbelt but he was not ejected from the vehicle. He succumbed to his injuries and was not discovered by a woman who resides at the residence until about 7:25 a.m., when she summoned help. Leon was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy showed Leon died of blunt-force trauma to the chest and abdominal injuries, according to a Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office spokesman.
