OXNARD : 6 Are Injured in Head-On Collision

Six people were injured Saturday afternoon in a head-on crash on Pacific Coast Highway, south of Las Posas Road, authorities said.

Juan Hernandez, 31, of Oxnard, was going south on Pacific Coast Highway about 5:20 p.m. when he took a turn at 60 m.p.h. and crossed into one of the northbound lanes, colliding into a carload of people, said California Highway Patrol Officer Jackie Diaz.

Hernandez was not wearing a seat belt and suffered moderate to major injuries, Diaz said. He was being treated at Ventura County Medical Center on Saturday evening, and later will be booked into Ventura County Jail on suspicion of felony drunk driving, Diaz said.

The driver of the other car, Randy Hecht, 40, of Thousand Oaks was taken to Pleasant Valley Hospital and was still being evaluated for treatment Saturday evening, the nursing supervisor said.

Hecht’s passengers were all taken to St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, said CHP Officer David Wigton. James Shimamoto, 6, of Newbury Park suffered minor injuries. His 5-year-old brother Jason was not hurt, Wigton said. Hecht’s other passengers were: Grant Shimamoto, 42, of Newbury Park; John Schmunke, 26, of St. Louis, Mo.; and Erik Sun, 42, of Buffalo Grove, Ill. Their injuries ranged from moderate to major, and they were being evaluated for treatment Saturday evening, Wigton said.