COUNTYWIDE : 2 Men Killed in Separate Accidents

Two Ventura County men were killed Monday in accidents near Somis and El Rio, authorities said.

Alejandro Gomez, 23, of Camarillo died after his car ran head-on into a tractor-trailer during his attempt to pass a slower-moving vehicle on a two-lane stretch of California 118 west of Somis.

In a second accident, Juan Jose Martinez, 33, of Oxnard was pronounced dead at the scene of a 2:23 p.m. collision in which a pickup truck struck Martinez’s car broadside at Rose and Central avenues near El Rio.

Authorities said Gomez was driving west on California 118 near Aggen Road when he pulled into oncoming traffic to pass a car. At the same time, Sanjiv Verma, 42, who was driving east, pulled into the westbound lane to pass a tractor-trailer, creating a situation in which two vehicles were approaching head-on in each lane.

Gomez tried to pull back into the westbound lane, but lost control of his car, struck Verma’s car and careened into the front of the tractor-trailer, driven by Jesse Lizarraga Jr., 28, of Ontario. Gomez’s car split in half on impact, police said. Gomez was flown by helicopter to Pleasant Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:46 a.m.

In the second accident, Martinez was driving south about 30 m.p.h. on Rose Avenue when he entered the intersection of Central Avenue, CHP Officer Ernie Sanchez said.

Vernon Austin Tubbs, 61, of Santa Paula was driving his pickup about 50 m.p.h. east on Central Avenue and struck Martinez’s car on the driver’s side door, Sanchez said. He said one of the two drivers ran a red light at the intersection, but authorities are unsure who was at fault.

Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:44 p.m., Ventura County Deputy Coroner Craig Stevens said.