Ventura Woman Killed When Car Flips on Ojai Freeway

A 51-year-old Ventura woman was killed Sunday after being ejected from her convertible sports car when it swerved out of control and overturned on the Ojai Freeway in west Ventura.

Constance Stearns was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after the crash, which occurred shortly after 12:30 p.m. on the southbound lanes of the freeway near the Stanley Avenue exit, authorities said. She was not wearing a seat belt.

The accident was the first traffic fatality on Ventura County roadways over the Memorial Day weekend, authorities said.

Stearns was driving alone in the freeway’s fast lane just before the accident, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Mike Cooper said. She lost control of her car after changing lanes and drifting onto a gravel shoulder on the right side of the freeway, according to witnesses.

Cooper said Stearns attempted to steer back onto the freeway, but the car, a blue Mercury XR4, flipped over at least twice.

No other vehicles were involved.

The daughter of the victim was following in another car and was on the scene shortly after the accident, Cooper said.

Stearns suffered head injuries, said Mitch Breese, a senior deputy coroner. An autopsy is scheduled today.

Investigators are trying to determine if Stearns became distracted while talking on a cellular phone, Cooper said.

The car came to a rest about 90 feet from the point where Stearns was ejected.

CHP officers closed the freeway briefly and rerouted traffic onto Stanley Avenue.

Cooper said the holiday weekend started with several minor accidents Friday evening but no major crashes despite slick roadways Saturday. CHP dispatchers said the number of calls for service was lower than usual for a holiday weekend.

Authorities are gearing up for a busy day Monday as holiday travelers return home, Cooper said. “People need to slow down, don’t drink and drive and remember to buckle up.”

As of Sunday afternoon, CHP officers had made 11 drunk-driving arrests on county freeways, officials said.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service in Oxnard said cloudy skies will linger across the county today, with a 20% chance of morning showers.

High temperatures will be in the 70s with lows in the mid-50s. Temperatures will remain about the same on Tuesday, with partly cloudy skies in the morning, clearing by the afternoon.