VENTURA COUNTY NEWS : Man Killed in Crash Identified as County Employee

A 27-year employee of the county’s Human Services Agency died after losing control of his car and crashing on California 33 in Ventura, authorities said Friday.

Willie Black Jr., 54, of Oxnard died about 8:20 p.m. Thursday while making the transition from the Ventura Freeway onto California 33, California Highway Patrol Officer Dave Cockrill said.

Black’s car flipped over a median and rolled onto an onramp, Cockrill said. He was ejected through the sunroof of his 1988 Nissan Maxima and pronounced dead at the scene, Cockrill said.

Deputy County Coroner James Baroni said Black, who was driving to Ojai to visit a friend, died of chest injuries. Services were being planned Friday by Black’s wife. He is also survived by two children, Baroni said.

Authorities have not determined the cause of the crash. Cockrill said officers did find full and empty beer cans inside and outside Black’s car. He also said some marijuana was found inside the car.

Toxicology test results will be available in several weeks, Baroni said.

“It was a great shock,” said Helen Reburn, deputy director of the county welfare office. “The staff and his co-workers are trying to deal with it and are grieving the loss.”

Black was an eligibility officer at the agency and decided which families and individuals would receive Medi-Cal benefits, Reburn said.