Man Dies as Truck Crashes Into Tree
A Simi Valley man died early Sunday after the Ford pickup he was driving crashed into a tree near Moorpark, officials said.
About 12:15 a.m., Edward J. Swainson, 36, was driving on California 23 near the intersection with Happy Camp Road when he drove off the right side of the road, police said.
Trying to get back onto the road, Swainson over-corrected, causing the truck to swerve out of control and smash into a pepper tree, police said.
Although the impact was on the passenger side, Swainson was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown across the cab of the vehicle, police said. His body hit the tree, causing fatal injuries, police said.
Swainson was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
Investigators from the California Highway Patrol said there was a strong odor of alcohol in the truck, but that they are waiting for autopsy results to determine if Swainson was intoxicated.
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