3 Injured When Car Goes Off Onramp Embankment

Three people were injured--one critically--Sunday afternoon when their car went down an embankment off the southbound onramp to California 33 at Casitas Vista Road and Foster Park.

The 3:50 p.m. crash shut down the southbound lanes of California 33 for about 40 minutes while a rescue helicopter landed on the roadway.

Two male passengers were taken by ambulance to area hospitals, where they were treated for minor injuries.

Rescue personnel from the city and county fire departments had to remove the roof and windshield of the car to free the driver, a juvenile female.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department rescue helicopter touched down on the southbound lanes and transported the woman to Ventura County Medical Center, where she was treated for facial and internal injuries.

Traffic on southbound California 33 was backed up through Casitas Springs, and once the helicopter landed, traffic on the northbound side crept along as drivers gawked at the yellow and blue aircraft.

Drivers trying to get on the highway from Casitas Vista Road were diverted south on Ventura Avenue to the Canada Larga onramp.

The Casitas Vista Road onramp was reopened about 5 p.m.

No other vehicles were involved in the accident and police were continuing their investigation Sunday night.