A 50-year-old Ventura County man was killed Friday morning when a big-rig driver swerved to avoid another vehicle and crashed into him on State Route 126 near Fillmore.
The collision occurred at 11:20 a.m. The victim’s name has not been released pending notification of next of kin. He lived in Oak View, south of Ojai.
According to a report from the California Highway Patrol, Ionut Rusu, 30, of British Columbia, was on his way to Oxnard to pick up a load of pineapples in his tractor-trailer. Rusu was heading westbound on State Route 126 when, according to witnesses, a gold Nissan Murano blew the stop sign at the Old Telegraph Road intersection.
The Nissan turned onto the highway directly into Rusu’s path.
Rusu hit the brakes and swerved to avoid the Nissan. He crossed into eastbound lanes, directly into the path of the victim’s Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck.
The victim swerved to avoid the oncoming big-rig – but not far enough. The front of Rusu’s rig slammed into the driver’s side of the Chevrolet, pushing it onto the dirt and grass at the side of the highway.
Paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene. Rusu’s rig blocked the eastbound lanes, and shortly after the crash, witnesses said eastbound drivers were crossing into westbound lanes at a high rate of speed to bypass the wreck. CHP officers arrived and provided traffic control, diverting eastbound traffic into the westbound fast lane in an orderly fashion. All lanes were open by 4 p.m.
The driver of Nissan did not stop and is considered a hit-and-run driver. Witnesses are asked to call the Ventura County CHP office at 805-477-4100.
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