Motorcyclist Dies in Freeway Accident

A fatal motorcycle accident on the Ventura Freeway brought traffic to a crawl for more than a hour Thursday, authorities said.

The motorcyclist, whose name was withheld pending notification of relatives, was traveling northbound when he lost control of his bike just north of Rose Avenue in Oxnard at 4:30 p.m., according to California Highway Patrol officials.

He suffered major head trauma and leg injuries. His heart stopped in the ambulance and he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, according to Gold Coast Ambulance Service.

No other motorists were involved in the accident.

All but one of the northbound lanes were closed for about one hour, officials said.

The resulting traffic jam foiled a suspect’s attempt to evade Ventura County sheriff’s deputies in a high-speed chase, Senior Deputy Larry Logan said.

When sheriff’s officers arrived at a fight on Mesa Avenue in Thousand Oaks, one man got in his car and fled to the freeway.

But when he approached the traffic snarl, he was forced to exit at Carmen Drive, Logan said. While on the ramp, the suspect lost control of the car and slammed into an embankment.

The man then tried to flee on foot but was apprehended, Logan said. He has been booked on suspicion of evading arrest.