Head-On Collision at SR126 & Pyle Road
Ventura County Fire Department, AMR Paramedics, and California Highway Patrol were called to a reported head-on collision on westbound SR126 and Pyle Road in Fillmore on Monday, July 24, 2023, at 1:58 p.m. Firefighters on the scene discovered two pickup trucks with moderate to severe damage. One patient had moderate injuries, while two patients suffered possible major injuries. Firefighters blocked off both lanes of SR126 so that the helicopter could land and transport the patient. Two patients were taken to a nearby hospital by ambulance, while a third patient was flown to a local hospital. On-scene CHP officers shut down westbound SR126 traffic until the scene was cleared. Photo credit Angel Esquivel-AE News.
Ventura County Fire Department, AMR Paramedics, and California Highway Patrol were called to a reported head-on collision on westbound SR126 and Pyle Road in Fillmore on Monday, July 24, 2023, at 1:58 p.m. Firefighters on the scene discovered two pickup trucks with moderate to severe damage. One patient had moderate injuries, while two patients suffered possible major injuries. Firefighters blocked off both lanes of SR126 so that the helicopter could land and transport the patient. Two patients were taken to a nearby hospital by ambulance, while a third patient was flown to a local hospital. On-scene CHP officers shut down westbound SR126 traffic until the scene was cleared. Photo credit Angel Esquivel-AE News.
By Gazette Staff Writers — Friday, July 28th, 2023

A 60-year-old Ojai man was arrested on suspicion of a drug-related DUI after a head-on crash on Highway 126 west of Fillmore Monday that caused serious injuries to two Lancaster residents.

The collision was reported shortly before 2 p.m. east of Pyle Road, between Fillmore and Santa Paula, California Highway Patrol officials said. The Ojai man had been driving a 2018 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck eastbound when he traveled into oncoming traffic, according to the CHP. The Ojai driver’s truck hit a 2006 Chevrolet pickup truck traveling westbound. The 43-year-old Lancaster man had been driving with a Lancaster woman, 49, in the passenger seat. The woman was trapped after the head-on collision and Ventura County firefighters had to extricate her from the truck. Both of the Lancaster residents were taken to Ventura County Medical Center with major injuries.

On Tuesday, the two were said to be in stable condition, said CHP Officer Jorge Alfaro. The Ojai driver suffered minor injuries, authorities said. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI, with CHP officials saying drug-related impairment was believed to be a factor in the crash. A third vehicle, a Dodge ProMaster cargo van, had been traveling westbound and was hit by debris from the initial crash. The driver wasn’t injured and his passenger suffered minor injuries. Both are from Ventura. The incident fully closed the highway in both directions for about 30 minutes, Alfaro said. At least one lane in each direction was later opened, with traffic alternating at times, as the CHP’s on-scene investigation continued for a couple hours.

The accident remains under investigation. Witnesses are asked to call the Ventura-area CHP office at 805-662-2640.