Emergency crews from the Ventura County Fire Department, the California Highway Patrol, and American Medical Response (AMR) responded to the scene. Untalan said the collision forced the partial closure of Highway 126 while emergency crews worked at the scene.Gabriel suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by ambulance personnel. Cruz and Chavez were both transported to the Ventura County Medical Center. Cruz suffered serious injuries including a broken right leg, while Chavez suffered injuries to his head and chest.The cause of the collision, noted Untalan, is still under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.
CHP: Taft man killed Tuesday in Highway 126 collision
February 20, 2009
Santa Paula News
A Taft man was killed and two Fillmore men seriously injured in an early morning collision that occurred Tuesday on Highway 126.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesA Taft man was killed and two Fillmore men seriously injured in an early morning collision that occurred Tuesday on Highway 126. According to California Highway Patrol Officer Michael Untalan, the accident involving two vehicles occurred west of Atmore Road on February 17 at approximately 5:15 a.m.“The collision,” according to Untalan, “killed the driver of one vehicle, and injured the driver and passenger of the second vehicle.” Lonnie Paul Gabriel, 26, of Taft, was driving his BMW at an unknown speed eastbound on Highway 126 west of Atmore Road, when for unknown reasons the BMW swerved out of control through the center median.Bryon Cruz, 21, and his passenger Erik Chavez, 25, both residents of Fillmore, were traveling westbound in a Ford Explorer and were approaching from the opposite direction when Gabriel’s BMW traveled into the westbound lanes, directly in front of Cruz’s vehicle. “Cruz had no time to react,” and Untalan said the front of his vehicle broadsided the right side of the BMW, causing major damage to both vehicles.
