2 Sisters Die in Head-On Crash Along Highway

Two young sisters died Thursday in a head-on crash near Santa Paula, bringing to seven the number killed this month on a stretch of California 126 that has long been known as “Blood Alley.”

The collision occurred at 6:45 a.m. about a mile east of Santa Paula when a sedan driven by 30-year-old Juan Ramirez of Port Hueneme crossed into the eastbound lanes and ran head-on into a minivan driven by 37-year-old Diane Tello of Ventura, California Highway Patrol Officer Steve Reid said.

Tello’s car flipped and came to rest on its roof in the westbound lanes. Eight-year-old Andrea Tello and 11-year-old Katie Tello died at the scene, according to a spokeswoman from the Ventura County medical examiner’s office.

Diane Tello was taken to Santa Paula Memorial Hospital with lacerations, neck and back pains, and was listed in good condition Thursday night. She had been trapped upside down for about 20 minutes before Ventura County Fire Department personnel freed her.

Tello’s husband, Mike, was not in the car.

Ramirez suffered facial cuts and was listed in fair condition at Ventura County Medical Center, a hospital spokeswoman said.

His passenger, 20-year-old Norma Fuentes of Port Hueneme, was in critical condition in the medical center’s intensive care unit with multiple fractures, chest and head injuries. Their 10-month-old son, Jesus, was treated at Santa Paula Memorial Hospital, transferred to Ventura County Medical Center, treated and released.”

CHP Officer Dave Webb said the child-safety seat in which the boy was riding saved his life.

Everyone in both cars was wearing safety restraints, officials said.

Authorities do not know why Ramirez’s car swerved into oncoming traffic, but alcohol and drugs were ruled out as contributing to the accident, Reid said.

CHP officers said Ramirez told onlookers that he had left Reno at 10 p.m. Wednesday and had been driving all night.

No arrests had been made or citations issued as of Thursday night, Reid said.

The incident closed the highway in both directions from 7 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., with traffic diverted around the crash scene via South Mountain Road.

After the accident was cleared, counselors were available to talk to emergency personnel, many of whom have young children, a paramedic supervisor said.

Thursday’s crash was a reminder for many of just how dangerous California 126 has been over the years.

Earlier this month, three field workers died when their car collided head-on with a big-rig truck just east of the Los Angeles County line. Two other men died Monday in another head-on collision west of the county line. All but one of the victims were from Ventura County.

In the past decade, the state Department of Transportation has widened much of the highway between Santa Paula and the Golden State Freeway in Los Angeles County.

The stretch of road where Thursday’s accident occurred had been widened to four lanes, with a turning lane in the middle, about 10 years ago.

While the widening projects, two of which are underway in the Fillmore and Piru areas, have been perceived as making the highway safer, Thursday’s accident had some people wondering whether safeguards such as cement dividers in the center of the highway are also needed.