Rash of Casualties in Pair of Collisions

The second head-on collision on area roads in two days put a pair of North Hollywood men in the hospital with serious injuries, authorities said.

The latest crash occurred Wednesday night and caused the Pacific Coast Highway near Tonga Street just north of the county line to be closed for four hours, said Steve Reid, a California Highway Patrol spokesman.

Two helicopters and four ambulances transported five victims from the scene of the 7:15 p.m. accident, he said.

The accident occurred when a southbound car driven by Kendra Banks, 17, of Studio City crossed two lanes of traffic while traveling around 60 mph and smashed into an oncoming car, Reid said. The lone occupant of the second vehicle, 38-year-old Ruben Ortega of Oxnard, was treated for minor injuries at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard before being released.

But Banks and three North Hollywood residents in her car were taken to hospitals for their injuries.

Douge McQueen, 23, was in serious condition at UCLA Medical Center’s intensive care unit with a spinal injury and fractures to his pelvis and right leg, a hospital spokesman said. Michael Hynes, 18, was in critical condition in Los Robles Regional Medical Center’s intensive care unit, a spokeswoman said. Rachelle Bilson, 14, and Banks were listed in good condition at St. John’s.

Another head-on collision involving four vehicles on California 126 just east of the county line Tuesday afternoon claimed the life of 45-year-old Santa Paula resident Frank Fierroz.

Authorities said Fierroz died at the scene when his pickup collided with an eastbound pickup driven by Dave Morris, 57, of Taft. Morris’ truck had crossed onto the wrong side of the highway near San Martinez Grande Canyon Road, investigators said.

Morris was hospitalized in Newhall with severe injuries.