A head-on collision accident occurred on September 14th, 2022, which resulted in the wrongful death of a 26 year old man. The victim was identified as Saul Y. Martinez of Oxnard, California.

The accident occurred on a Wednesday afternoon and shut down Highway 118 (Los Angeles Avenue) west of Moorpark, California. Police are still gathering facts as to how such a tragic head-on collision could occur.

HOW THE HEAD-ON COLLISION RESULTED IN WRONGFUL DEATH

A CHP officers stated that around 2:20 PM, the driver of a white C-series Mercedes Sedan, Mr. Martinez, was heading westbound on Highway 118 just west of Grimes Canyon Rd. The officer did not yet know the speed the Mercedes was traveling at. However, for reasons still unknown, Mr. Martinez traveled into the eastbound lane, directly into oncoming traffic. He traveling this direction just as he was approaching a right hand curve in the road. After Mr. Martinez crossed traveled into oncoming traffic, he found himself directly in the path of a 2022 Chevrolet Truck. The two vehicles collided head-on. Mr. Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene.

THE DRIVER OF THE CHEVY SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES

According to the Ventura County Star, the driver of the Chevrolet Truck was identified as a 49-year old man from Moorpark, California. He was taken immediately to Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks, California, with severe injuries. Specific information as to the severity of the injuries was not yet known.

WHY DID THE DRIVER CAUSE THIS HEAD-ON COLLISION?

Currently, police are looking into whether drugs or alcohol were involved. It is not yet known why Mr. Martinez crossed into oncoming traffic. The crash shut down the 118 highway for approximately 2 hours before they opened it back up.

If you have any additional information regarding this head-on collision, please contact CHP’s Moorpark Office at (805)553-0800.