Ojai Woman Dies After 2-Vehicle Crash
A 59-year-old Ojai woman died Wednesday morning at a county hospital after being involved in a two-vehicle crash on California 33, the California Highway Patrol reported.
Carol Lawhead was driving her 1988 Ford station wagon about 11:30 a.m. just north of Nye Road, when she crossed the center line and slammed head-on into a sport utility vehicle, Officer Dave Webb said.
The impact crumpled the station wagon around Lawhead, who was trapped for more than 30 minutes while firefighters used rescue equipment to free her, Webb said. She was flown to Ventura County Medical Center where she died shortly after arrival.
Gary Paul, 26, of Oak View, was driving the other vehicle, a 1998 Lincoln Navigator, Webb said. Paul suffered neck pain and cuts on his arm and back and was treated at Ojai Valley Hospital.
“The cause is under investigation,” Webb said. “There were no skid marks and no immediate signs of drugs or alcohol being involved.”
The crash forced the closure of the highway for about 90 minutes.
Lawhead, a homemaker, is survived by her husband and two children.
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