California Highway Patrol

On March 15, 2010 at 3:32 pm, a major injury traffic collision involving two vehicles occurred on northbound US-101 at Telephone Rd.

Giovanny Ruiz, age 19 of Ventura, was driving a 2005 Nissan Maxima northbound on US-101 near Victoria Ave. According to several witnesses, Ruiz’s vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed estimated to be over 90 mph. Ruiz was reportedly in and off traffic using all lanes to pass slower vehicles. Brandon Lamb, age 56 of Newport Beach, was driving a 1992 Jeep Cherokee northbound on US-101 in the #3 lane approaching Telephone Rd.

Ruiz was traveling in the #1 lane at a high rate of speed and attempted to make a lane change to pass a slower vehicle. Ruiz lost control of his vehicle as it veered to the right and struck the driver side Lamb’s vehicle. Lamb’s vehicle ran off the road, traveled down an embankment and struck a tree. The force of the impact caused Lamb’s vehicle to wrap almost completely around the tree. Ruiz’s vehicle overturned several times down the
embankment and came to rest on its wheels against the perimeter fence at the bottom of the embankment adjacent to Telephone Rd.

Lamb, and his passenger Jacquelyn Drake age 62 of Fresno, were trapped in the vehicle and had to be extricated by Ventura City Fire Department personnel. Ruiz was able to get out his vehicle on his own after the collision. Lamb and Drake were transported by ambulance to the Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC) where they were admitted for treatment of the serious injuries they sustained in the collision. Ruiz was also transported
by ambulance to VCMC where he was treated for minor injuries and later released.

The Telephone Rd. off ramp from northbound US-101 was closed until 5:25 pm due to the collision. The eastbound #2 and #3 lanes on Telephone Rd. near East Main St. were closed until 6:10. Ruiz, Lamb and Drake were all wearing seatbelts when the collision occurred. No arrests were made and the collision is still under investigation.