Driver to Be Tried in Businessman’s Death

An Oxnard motorist charged with causing a four-car accident that killed a Moorpark businessman was ordered Wednesday to stand trial on felony vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run charges.

Jose Chavez Camarena, 26, is scheduled for arraignment in Superior Court on Nov. 24, at which time a trial date will be set, Deputy Dist. Atty. Lawrence Brown said.

Camarena is charged with causing the Aug. 13 death of Karl Edward Gonser, 41. Camarena allegedly crossed a double yellow line while trying to pass several cars on an uphill, two-lane section of Moorpark Road, about half a mile south of Tierra Rejada Road.

Gonser was traveling in the opposite direction and lost control of his car when he tried to avoid hitting Camarena’s vehicle head-on, Brown said. Gonser’s vehicle swerved into the oncoming lane and he clipped one car and was struck by another.

Testifying at a preliminary hearing Wednesday was Kraig Granger, 37, of Moorpark, who cried as he described his unsuccessful effort to avoid hitting Gonser’s vehicle. Granger was seriously injured in the collision and appeared in court with a cane, Brown said.

Also testifying was a 16-year-old girl who was a passenger in Camarena’s car. Brown said the girl testified that Camarena looked in his rearview mirror after passing the cars and said: “I think the man crashed.”

Gonser, who was vice president and chief technical officer of Technical Data Corp. in Moorpark, was pronounced dead of multiple injuries at the scene.

Camarena was charged after a seven-week investigation by the California Highway Patrol. The defendant was tied to the incident by a witness who followed him and noted his license plate, officials said.

Camarena is free on $5,000 bail, Brown said.