Rash of Accidents on Ventura Freeway

A spate of accidents on the Ventura Freeway sent two people to the hospital Saturday while snarling traffic on and off for several hours beginning about noon, authorities said.

At least five other people were treated for minor injuries at accident scenes from Pacific Coast Highway south of Point Mugu to Rose Avenue and the Ventura Freeway.

“It was a busy day on the 101,” said paramedic supervisor Robert Snyder of MedTrans Ambulance of Ventura.

The first of four crashes on the freeway occurred about 11:50 a.m., authorities said. It happened near Wendy Drive on the south side of the Conejo Grade and involved a big rig that went into the center divider.

The driver of the truck was treated at the scene.

About the same time, the southbound side of the Ventura Freeway north of Rice Road was the scene of a three-car crash. There were no injuries.

About 12:45 p.m., before the highway was cleared, another crash occurred on the northbound Ventura Freeway near Vineyard Avenue. That accident involved a single-car rollover and closed down all lanes for a short time. One woman was taken to St. John’s Regional Medical Center with serious head injuries.

The next accident on the Ventura Freeway was about 3:50 p.m. on the southbound side, on the north side of the Conejo Grade.

Crews from the county Fire Department had to free the driver, who suffered mild to moderate lacerations to his face and arms.

“There were some off-duty nurses there who were able to help him,” Snyder said.

He was taken for treatment to Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks.

Emergency crews were called to another accident about 5:15 p.m. on Pacific Coast Highway near Point Mugu State Park.

A Ventura County Sheriff’s Department rescue helicopter was dispatched to the scene at Deer Creek but was called back. Four people were involved in the crash. One was taken to St. John’s Regional Medical Center.