10 Hurt as Van and Car Collide

A Saturday afternoon collision involving a van full of Italian tourists on the Pacific Coast Freeway sent 10 people to area hospitals, police said.

Four victims, two of them taken by helicopter, went to St. John’s Regional Medical Center, California Highway Patrolman Dana Smith said. Six other victims were taken to Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo, where they were treated and released. Several of the victims suffered broken bones, Smith said.

The accident occurred near the Mugu Road exit at 3:15 p.m. Port Hueneme resident Alton Robertson, 28, was driving a Saab north on the Pacific Coast Freeway near the Mugu Road exit when his car drifted into the path of the van on the southbound lane, Smith said.

The Italian driver of the rented van swerved to avoid Robertson’s car. But the front right ends of the two vehicles collided, Smith said.

Robertson was hospitalized for observation. One of his two passengers, Lebbie Johnson, 33, of Oxnard, suffered a broken right leg, Smith said. The second passenger, of Los Angeles, suffered a broken nose.

The Italians, including two children, were on their last day of vacation and were traveling back to Los Angeles, Smith said. All of them were treated and released Saturday night, except for one adult who suffered a broken right ankle, Smith said.