3 Killed on County Roads During 1st 18 Hours of Holiday

Three people were killed in traffic accidents on Ventura County roads in the first 18 hours of the Thanksgiving holiday, authorities said Thursday.

On Wednesday evening, a man in his early 20s was killed while riding his bicycle on Pacific Coast Highway south of Channel Islands Boulevard in Oxnard.

According to police, the man was traveling north in the southbound lane when he collided head-on with a car driven by Robert Roberts, 46, of Ventura. Roberts was not cited.

Authorities have not been able to identify the victim.

Also on Wednesday evening, a 49-year-old Oxnard man was killed when he drove off Victoria Avenue north of Gonzales Road near Oxnard. Police said the man, whose name was withheld pending notification of relatives, drove his car into a ditch, flipping it several times.

The vehicle then hit a parked vehicle and flipped over again before it stopped.

The victim was taken to St. John’s Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

At 12:50 p.m. Thursday, an 18-year-old Santa Paula man died when his motorcycle collided head-on with a car driven by Pablo Gamez of Santa Barbara in one of the tunnels on California 33 about seven miles north of Ojai.

Police said the victim had crossed over the center line while driving south through the tunnel near Wheeler Springs and collided with the oncoming car.

He was taken to Ventura County Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

According to witnesses, the motorcycle went halfway under the car, amputating the man’s leg.

“There was nothing we could do for him,” said Rick Baskin, 21, of Fillmore. “All we could do was keep him warm and pray.”