Local Police Report Few New Year’s Accidents

Speculation that the new year would ring in highway mayhem and other problems apparently prompted revelers to stay put New Year’s Eve, leaving roads relatively quiet compared to previous years, law enforcement officials said.

“This year was much quieter than last year,” said Officer Shane Norwood of the Port Hueneme Police Department. “Everybody stayed in for the holidays.”

Port Hueneme police responded to an injury wreck involving three cars about 5:30 p.m. Friday on Ventura Road, and a noninjury collision at 3:30 p.m.--fewer wrecks than in previous years, Norwood said.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department reported only three traffic collisions after midnight Saturday throughout the county. Those numbers were on par with what the department usually sees during the New Year’s holiday in the five cities it patrols.

“People expected that there might be problems or people might party harder this year,” Sheriff’s Sgt. Larry Meyers said.

In Ventura, a Ford Bronco carrying five Ventura teenagers flipped on Foothill Road west of Seton Hall Avenue, ejecting two passengers.

Ryan Semchenko, 17, was driving the Bronco eastbound about 7:45 p.m. Friday when his right tires drifted into the dirt shoulder and he overcorrected, causing the vehicle to flip, police said.

Semchenko sustained a cut to the head. One of his passengers, Rory Mulholland, 18, was thrown from the truck and sustained head trauma. Mulholland is in serious condition in Ventura County Medical Center’s intensive care unit.

Another passenger, Michael McNally, 17, was also thrown from the truck and broke his arm. Two other passengers, Brendan Dwyer, 17, and Daniel Hill, 18, were not injured.

Police said alcohol did not appear to be involved. An investigation is continuing.

In another incident, the Sheriff’s Department responded to a head-on collision just before 1 a.m. in Thousand Oaks that totaled one vehicle at Rancho Conejo Boulevard and Hillcrest Drive. A sheriff’s deputy took one person to the hospital. It was unclear whether alcohol was involved.

The Sheriff’s Department also reported a noninjury hit-and-run in Camarillo at 12:41 a.m. Saturday and a noninjury wreck when a car struck a fence about 1:30 p.m.

Other law enforcement agencies throughout the county said they would not have a tally of New Year’s collisions for another week.