Driver Crashes After Apparent Seizure

A 34-year-old North Hollywood man crashed his sport utility vehicle on the Ventura Freeway near Camarillo Springs Road on Monday after apparently suffering a seizure, authorities said.

Michael Pierce was in fair condition Monday night at Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, spokeswoman Kris Carraway-Bowman said. The cause of the seizure was unknown, she said.

According to California Highway Patrol Officer Dave Webb, Pierce was southbound on the freeway about 2:30 p.m. when he crashed his 2000 Ford Explorer into the center divider.

Moments later, 30-year-old Ben Abdallah of Massachusetts parked about 300 feet in front of the wreckage and started walking toward Pierce’s vehicle to help him.

“The Explorer suddenly accelerated toward him at about 20 or 25 mph, and he had to jump out of the way,” Webb said. “[Pierce] apparently had his foot stuck on the accelerator.”

The Explorer missed Abdallah but smashed into his rental car, Webb said. Both vehicles sustained major damage.

Firefighters freed Pierce from the wreckage, and he was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Carraway-Bowman said he would remain hospitalized overnight for testing. He suffered no other injuries.

The accident forced the closure of two freeway lanes, Webb said.