Driver Killed in Freeway Rollover

An elderly Ventura man died Tuesday morning after his truck veered off the Ventura Freeway in Camarillo, rolled over twice and landed in the roadway, indirectly causing a four-car pileup, authorities said.

Retired carpenter Hubert Schnuch, 73, was pronounced dead at St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo. Schnuch’s wife, Margaret, 73, was treated for minor injuries and released, a hospital spokesman said.

They were both wearing seat belts, said California Highway Patrol Officer David Webb.

Authorities said they suspect Schnuch suffered a heart attack or was choking on something when he lost control of the truck, but an autopsy is scheduled for today, said James Baroni, a senior deputy medical examiner with the Ventura County coroner’s office.

The couple were southbound on the Ventura Freeway between Carmen and Las Posas roads at about 10:15 a.m. when the Toyota truck crossed two lanes of traffic, rolled and came to rest on its wheels.

A truck driver and two Ventura County sheriff’s deputies witnessed the accident and pulled over to help the couple.

They tried unsuccessfully to revive Schnuch.

Moments after wreckage was cleared from two lanes, another accident occurred on the southbound freeway, half a mile north.

Kent Miller, 60, of Oak View, apparently was stopped in traffic when the three motorists behind him accelerated, causing a four-car pileup.

“It was a chain reaction from the previous accident,” said California Highway Patrol Officer Philip Meschke.

No one was injured, but Miller was taken to St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital, where he was headed to a doctor’s appointment when the accident occurred, authorities said.