PIRU : Driver Killed After Veering Into Lane

A 30-year-old Ventura man was killed early Friday when he swerved to avoid slow traffic and crashed into an oncoming car on California 126, officials said.

Rogelio Pena Perez, a highway construction worker, died of multiple injuries at the scene, said investigator Jim Wingate of the Ventura County coroner’s office.

Perez was traveling eastbound just west of Old Telegraph Road near Piru at 5:50 a.m., when he veered into the westbound lane, said Officer Jim Utter of the California Highway Patrol. He crashed into a van carrying 12 people, Utter said.

Perez and a passenger, Albino Martinez, were thrown from the car. Martinez, 19, of Santa Paula was taken to Santa Paula Memorial Hospital where he was listed in stable condition Friday night.

Another passenger, Hector Aguayo, 33, of Fillmore suffered minor injuries. He was also in stable condition at the hospital last night, a hospital spokeswoman said.

None of the 12 passengers in the van was seriously injured, Utter said. They were taken to the Ventura County Medical Center and Santa Paula Memorial Hospital, where they were treated and released, he said.