On Friday, July 11th, at 5:30pm, multiple units were called out to a traffic collision eastbound on Highway 126 near the LA County Line, claiming two lives. The highway was closed for over an hour. Photo credit California Highway Patrol.
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On Friday, July 11th, at 5:30 p.m., the Ventura County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire, AMR Paramedics, Air Squad, and California Highway Patrol were dispatched to a reported traffic collision eastbound SR126 near LA County Line. According to the California Highway Patrol in a statement “Officers have concluded that a 40-year-old Fillmore man was driving a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe westbound on the road when the vehicle traveled into the eastbound lane and directly into the path an oncoming 2016 Subaru for unknown reasons. A 46-year-old man driving the Subaru died at the scene, emergency crews found him trapped in the driver’s seat and unresponsive his residence was not provided. The Fillmore man was transported by helicopter to Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. Three other men in the Tahoe were taken by ambulance to Heary Mayo Memorial Hospital for treatment for major injuries. It’s not clear what their relationship was to the driver. A third vehicle, which was a red Tesla, was struck by debris from the crash but sustained little to no damage. No arrest was made, and the involvement of alcohol or drugs is still unknown. The highway was partially closed for a little over an hour in the vicinity of crash while the helicopter was on scene and CHP officers investigated the crash.
The identities of the two deceased individuals have not been released yet by the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office.

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On Tuesday, July 15, at about 11am, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents called the Fillmore Sheriff’s Communication Center and reported they were being followed around by an aggressive female driver in a silver Toyota sport utility vehicle. The ICE agents reported the female began following them while they were traveling eastbound on SR-126, just outside the Fillmore city limits. The federal agents drove to the Fillmore Police Station parking lot in an effort to de-escalate tensions and prevent dangerous traffic related issues. While at the police station deputies contacted the parties involved, kept the peace, and determined no crime had been committed. The female driver, an Oxnard resident, was warned on the use of a PA system installed on her vehicle while operating a motor vehicle, pursuant to California Vehicle Code section 27007. All parties left the area a short time later without any further incident. Videos of the woman talking over her PA system can be found at www.FillmoreGazette.com.

UPDATE: On 07/08/2025, Camarillo Traffic Investigators and Fillmore Detectives arrested (S) Myryam Castillo from Fillmore for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated for her involvement in a double fatal traffic collision that occurred on 07/02/2025.

On 07/02/2025, at approximately 2045 hours, deputies responded to the area of 1305 Ventura Street in reference to an injury traffic collision. Upon arrival, it was determined two vehicles collided head on in the west bound lanes of Ventura Street west of “D” Street.

During the investigation, Camarillo Traffic Investigators obtained evidence establishing Castillo had consumed alcohol prior to driving her vehicle. Castillo drove her car across the two-way center turn lane of Ventura Street, eventually traveling east in the west bound lanes. The front of Castillo’s vehicle struck the front of (D) Maria DonDiego’s vehicle. The collision resulted in the death of DonDiego and Castillo’s five-year old son. Two other children were also seriously injured in the collision and treated at local hospitals.

On 07/08/2025, Camarillo Traffic Investigators and Fillmore Detectives arrested Castillo for two counts of Penal Code section 191.5 - Gross Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated. Castillo was booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility and later released after posting $100,000 bail.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or has any information about the incident is encouraged to contact Deputy Bradley Bordon at (805)-388-5146 or bradley.bordon@ventura.org.

Prepared by: Deputy Bradley Bordon

News Release Date: 07/09/2025

Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon

Booking Photo Release: NO

By Heritage Valley Blazers, Kenny Leighton

Ethan Leighton and Carlos Marin have both qualified for the USATF Junior Olympic National Championships in Savanah Georgia next week.

The T&F season has been a long one for these two athletes, starting in February here in Fillmore and culminating next week in Savannah GA.

Ethan who competes in the 13–14-year-old division will run in his favorite event the 800m, he is also scheduled to run the 4X800 meter relay with members of Valley United Striders out of Valencia.
Ethan has had a strong 800m season winning 5 of 6 league meets and placing 2nd in the Conference championships. Ethan’s post-season found him competing against some of the best 800m runners on the west coast, each week improving his time and gaining the experience needed to race in these large meets, lowering his personal best to a 2:11.09. Having qualified and receiving invites to the Nike Outdoor National Championships in the 400m and the New Balance Outdoor championships in the 800m. Ethan made the decision to attempt to qualify and take the USATF qualifying route which took him to Cerritos, Las Vegas and finally to Savannah. This will be his last race has a youth competing for HV Blazers, in the fall he will be attending St Bonaventure where he will run XC, Track and his first love acting for the Drama club.

Carlos, who competes in the 8U division and will be competing in the 1500m has had an equally successful year. The conference does not run the 1500m but rather the 1600m, he won 4 of the 5 meets and placed 1st in the conference championships. Once post season started Carlos moved to the 1500 where he competed against some of the west coast’s best 8u 1500 runners. Beginning his quest for a ticket to Savannah Carlos competed in Cerritos 3 times, at the West Coast Classic, the Jets invitational, and the USATF Association meet then to Las Vegas for the regional championships and ultimately getting that qualification to Savannah. With this being early in Carlos’s running journey with the Blazers his coaches are looking forward to continuing to help him grow and continue to be successful on the track.

Both Ethan and Carlos are also members of the Fillmore Condors Cross Country club, and both competed in the USATF Junior Olympic National Cross Country championships in December 2024 in Indiana with Carlos being a member of the team that took Overall 3rd place in the 8u division.
The Fillmore Condors are currently holding signups as they prepare for the 2025XC season.