SIMI VALLEY : Thousand Oaks Woman Dies in Crash

Simi Valley police are investigating a traffic accident in which a 25-year-old Thousand Oaks woman died when her car spun out of control, hit a concrete piling and rolled onto its roof.

Jennifer Becker was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident just after 10 p.m. Tuesday. A passenger in her car, Douglas Deyoe, 27, suffered minor injuries and was treated at Simi Valley Hospital.

Police said the accident occurred about 9:40 p.m. near Royal and Blackstock avenues. Becker was driving west on Royal at more than 50 m.p.h. when her 1993 Toyota Tercel struck a curb, crossed into the eastbound lanes and struck a concrete pylon, Simi Valley Police Sgt. Jeff Malgren said.

Firefighters had to use heavy equipment to free Deyoe from the car.

Deyoe told police that the couple had been drinking wine and beer at a restaurant in Simi Valley before the accident. Malgren said it will be several weeks before investigators learn the results of toxicology tests conducted as part of Becker’s autopsy.

Becker had worked at the office of the Calleguas Municipal Water District as a temporary accounting clerk since October. The district planned to hire her permanently Jan. 15, said Mary Fischer, the district’s controller. “She was very quiet, gentle-spirited and very efficient,” she said.

Becker is survived by her parents, Marilyn Becker of Thousand Oaks and Warren Becker of Camarillo, Deputy Coroner Jim Wingate said.