Man Killed by Trash Truck While Crossing the Street

A 43-year-old Oxnard man trying to cross a street was crushed in or near a crosswalk by a city garbage truck just before dawn Friday.

Jayantilal Joitaram Patel, dressed in a dark coat and dark pants, was killed when the 4-ton truck ran over him at Ventura Road and 5th Street, authorities said. His body was found just outside the crosswalk. He died immediately from severe chest and abdominal injuries, said Craig Stevens, senior deputy medical examiner.

A witness told authorities the truck’s driver was heading east on 5th Street and attempting to make a right turn onto southbound Ventura Road as Patel tried to cross the street on a green light, Stevens said. However, it was unclear whether the pedestrian signal was flashing “walk” or “don’t walk,” Stevens said.

The driver, 40-year-old Andres Corona Jr., was questioned at the scene by Oxnard police, but not cited. Officials in the city’s Solid Waste Division could not be reached Friday.

The intersection was closed for about four hours Friday morning as Oxnard traffic officers investigated.