Driver Unhurt as Car Plunges Off Freeway

California Highway Patrol officers say alcohol may have been involved in a crash on the Ojai Freeway on Thursday afternoon that sent a car careening over a 30-foot embankment and onto its top near a preschool.

The female driver of the Honda walked away from the 3 p.m. accident on northbound California 33 north of the Ventura Freeway interchange.

As Ventura firefighters secured the car, which landed near Great Pacific Child Development, 259 W. Santa Clara St., CHP officers questioned the driver.

She was shaken, but did not have any external injuries, authorities said. “We do smell some alcohol,” said Officer Rex Mohun.

Witnesses said the woman may have been traveling close to 80 mph when she lost control of the car.

“She was just going way too fast,” said Della McLeod, who pulled her car off the freeway and called authorities.

The car ripped through a patch of ice plant before sliding across the Main Street onramp, and then went over the side, coming to rest on its top in thick trees and vegetation.

Lynn Wooster was watching children at the day care center when she and another teacher heard what sounded like a loud scraping sound.

“One of the girls grabbed a couple of the little ones, and then we called 911,” Wooster said.

No one at the center was injured.

The driver, whose name was not released, was taken to Ventura County Medical Center for observation, Mohun said.