Lewinsky Slightly Injured in 101 Crash

Monica Lewinsky, the former White House intern at the center of a presidential sex-and-perjury scandal, suffered minor injuries Sunday when her sport utility vehicle rolled over on the freeway north of Ventura, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Lewinsky was traveling northbound on U.S. 101 about 1:10 p.m., between Ventura and Carpinteria near the Dulah under-crossing, when she lost control of her 1999 Ford Explorer, said Bob Inman, a CHP dispatcher.

Lewinsky, who was alone, was five miles north of Ventura in the fast lane when she reached for something in her purse, Inman said. When the 26-year-old Los Angeles resident looked up, she realized she was too close to a motor home in the next lane.

Lewinsky veered to the left to avoid a collision, Inman said, adding that how fast she was traveling is not known. She then swerved to the right, back to the left and lost control of her vehicle, Inman said. The car slid across the dirt center divider and rolled onto the driver’s side before stopping in the freeway’s southbound lane.

“Officers found her awake and alert,” Inman said.

Lewinsky was taken on a stretcher by ambulance to Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura. She was treated for cuts and bruises on her arm, a hospital official said.

Lewinsky left the hospital just after 4 p.m. when her father and an unidentified friend arrived to pick her up.

Traffic on the busy thoroughfare was jammed for 30 minutes as the CHP removed the vehicle.

“It was backed up more than usual,” said Inman.

Lewinsky’s car was taken by McGraw Towing to a lot in Montalvo. The crash knocked out the windshield and scraped the entire driver’s side.

Tow-truck driver Frank Ramirez of Oxnard said he was unfazed by his encounter with the famous driver; he transported the Explorer after Lewinsky was rushed away.

“I was just going to do my job,” said Ramirez, who was bewildered by the unexpected media attention. “It makes no difference to me.”

It is not known whether Lewinsky was wearing her seat belt. Officers do not believe alcohol was involved in the accident.

Officers filed a report, but it was unclear if the CHP would investigate it further because no other vehicles or people were involved. A news conference is scheduled for today to release any new details.

As news spread that Lewinsky was in a traffic accident, a media frenzy ensued. The CHP dispatch center was flooded with calls from scores of reporters around the country.

Lewinsky was at the center of the scandal that led to the impeachment of President Clinton in the U.S. House of Representatives last year. Clinton was acquitted in February by the Senate, which refused to remove him from office.

The Beverly Hills native has been out of the spotlight since a whirlwind publicity tour in March, which included the release of her tell-all book, “Monica’s Story.”

Wire services contributed to this story.