Passersby Credited for Saving Crash Victims

The driver and passenger of a car that crashed and burned near Rocky Peak Fire Road on California 118 would have died had citizens not intervened, said Ventura County firefighters who were at the scene Monday afternoon.

The car was driven by Francisco D. Ramirez, 27, of Panorama City, who sideswiped two cars after trying to navigate between them, according to officials. He and his unidentified passenger were thrown from the car as it tumbled down a 35-foot embankment and burst into flames, said Capt. Edward Ho of Ventura County Fire Department Station 43, one of the first units on the scene of the 4:20 p.m. accident. Winds up to 35 mph fanned the flames, touching off a brush fire that engulfed more than five acres.

Other motorists, aided by an off-duty Los Angeles firefighter, pulled Ramirez and the passenger away from the blaze.

“I do think the citizens who stopped had something to do with these guys’ survival because, had they not been taken up the hillside, they probably would have burned up, if not died from their injuries,” Ho said.

Ramirez’s passenger sustained major injuries and was taken by helicopter to Simi Valley Hospital and then to Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where he underwent surgery and was listed in critical condition.

A passenger in one of the two vehicles struck by Ramirez’s car sustained moderate injuries, but neither driver was hurt, authorities said.

After he was treated for moderate injuries at Simi Valley Hospital and released, Ramirez was jailed on forgery charges unrelated to the accident, according to Ventura County Jail records clerk Ray Garcia.

It took more than 100 firefighters from Ventura and Los Angeles counties, a dozen fire engines and five helicopters to extinguish the blaze touched off by the burning car.