3-Car Pileup Leaves 2 Drivers Injured

An elderly driver was hit by an oncoming car Friday afternoon as he attempted to turn left onto Market Street in Ventura, causing a three-car pileup that blocked traffic on Telephone Road for more than an hour, authorities said.

Edward Mortarotti, 79, of Ventura and Kelly West, 30, of Oxnard, were taken to Ventura County Medical Center.

A hospital spokeswoman reported that Mortarotti was in serious condition and West in stable condition Friday evening.

A third driver, Susan Barber, 47, of Ventura, was uninjured.

Mortarotti was turning left onto Market Street about 1 p.m. when his El Camino was hit by West’s Toyota as she traveled south on Telephone Road. Barber’s Ford Explorer then plowed into the passenger side of the Toyota, police said.

“They were lucky there was no passengers in the Toyota because the Explorer was inside it,” said Ventura Police Officer Jon Castellanos.

The accident blocked five lanes of traffic on Telephone Road and required officers to reroute southbound traffic onto Market Street, he said.

Police have issued no citation in the accident because the investigation is not complete.

All three drivers were wearing seat belts, Castellanos said.