On Saturday, August 15, 2026, at approximately 11 p.m., the California Highway Patrol responded to a head-on collision on Grimes Canyon Road involving a white Chevrolet pickup truck and a CHP patrol vehicle. The CHP officer and a passenger in the pickup were transported to a hospital for injuries. The driver of the pickup, 34-year-old Derek Skinner of Santa Paula, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Photo credit Angel Esquivel.
VENTURA, Calif. – Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Derek Hansen Skinner (DOB 02/20/92), of Santa Paula, has been held to answer by a Ventura County Superior Court judge for a DUI crash that injured his passenger and a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer. Skinner is charged with DUI of an alcoholic beverage causing injury and driving with a blood alcohol content of .08% or higher and causing injury. He is also charged with special allegations of causing great bodily injury (GBI) in commission of a felony and causing injury to more than one victim.
Following a preliminary hearing earlier this month, Skinner was arraigned on the information on September 29, 2026, and pled not guilty to all charges.
On August 15, 2026, at approximately 11 p.m., Skinner was driving northbound on Grimes Canyon in an unincorporated area of Ventura County with a passenger in his vehicle. As Skinner approached a curve in the roadway, he allegedly crossed into the southbound lane and collided with a California Highway Patrol officer’s vehicle traveling in the opposite direction.
The collision caused significant injuries to the CHP officer and the passenger in Skinner’s vehicle. The CHP officer suffered a head laceration and broken wrist and was transported to the hospital. The passenger had to be extricated from Skinner’s vehicle and was also transported to a hospital. Skinner sustained an abrasion to his shin.
When CHP officers contacted Skinner, they noted the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. He performed poorly on the field sobriety tests and had a blood alcohol content of nearly twice the legal limit at the time of his arrest.
Skinner is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on November 3, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court. He remains out of custody after posting $50,000 bail.
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Case: 2026022195
Defendant Information:
Derek Hansen Skinner (DOB 02/20/92) Santa Paula
Charges:
• VC 23153(a) – DUI of alcoholic beverage causing injury
• VC 23153(b) – Driving with a .08% blood alcohol causing injury
Special allegations
• PC 12022.7(a) – GBI in commission of felony
• VC 23558 – Causing bodily injury to more than one victim
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Contact: Joey Buttitta
Title: Communications Manager/PIO
Phone: (805) 767-3400
Email: Joey.Buttitta@venturacounty.gov
Approved: SW
Date: September 30, 2026
Release No.: 26-134
