2 Men Killed in Unrelated Road Accidents

A bicyclist riding to work and a passenger in a car that rolled over on the Ventura Freeway died early Saturday morning in unrelated accidents.

The bicyclist died after a motorist struck him from the rear, Oxnard police said.

Samuel Scott Duran, 30, of Oxnard was riding his bike west on Pleasant Valley Road east of Rose Avenue in Oxnard at 5:45 a.m. when he was hit from behind by Kimberly Martin of Moorpark, authorities said. Martin told police she did not see Duran. Police said Duran had no headlights on his bike and was not wearing reflective gear.

Duran was pronounced dead at the scene from massive head injuries. Martin was taken to St. John’s Regional Medical Center for a routine blood test, but police said they had no reason to believe she was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident.

About three hours earlier, at 2:30 a.m., Feneri Casteneda, 34, of Carpinteria, died after the car he was riding in rolled over and he was thrown through the sunroof and pinned under the roof of the car, according to California Highway Patrol officials.

The car’s driver, Maria Plata, 25, also of Carpinteria, was driving 60 to 65 m.p.h. north on the Ventura Freeway south of Santa Barbara Street in the La Conchita area when she swerved to the left, the CHP said. The vehicle slid sideways into the center divider, then rolled over, highway patrol officials said.

Casteneda was not wearing his seat belt, officials said. Plata, who was wearing a seat belt, was taken to Ventura County Medical Center, where she was listed Saturday evening in fair condition.

Plata was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, CHP officers said.