header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 17
1927 - Newhall telephone exchange, est. 1900, now serves 100 phones [story]
telephone


| Thursday, Jan 25, 2018
Highway 126 Crash
Photo: Ventura County Fire Department

 

A collision on Highway 126 near Piru Wednesday afternoon claimed the life of a Santa Barbara woman and injured two other people including a man from Castaic.

California Highway Patrol officials said the collision occurred at approximately 4:30 p.m. in front of Rancho Camulos Museum when an eastbound pickup truck driven by Kenneth L. Coombes, 29, of Castaic, crashed into the rear of a Chevy truck, which was also traveling eastbound.

Sharon Vaughn | Facebook

The initial impact caused Coombes’ truck to cross the center divider of Highway 126 and collide head-on with a westbound Toyota Camry. The female passenger in the Camry, a 57-year-old Santa Barbara resident, was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver, Anthony N. Romasanta, 54, also of Santa Barbara, was airlifted to Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center.

Officials at the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s office later identified the female passenger as Sharon Vaughn.

Coombes suffered major injuries and was transported to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital.

The driver of the Chevy truck, Louis J. Lee, 45, of Lancaster, was treated at the scene.

The incident caused the partial closure of Highway 126 for approximately three hours.

While there is no indication at this time that alcohol or drugs were a factor in the collision, the cause is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact CHP Moorpark Division at (805) 553-0800.

 

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

32 Comments

  1. Jeanne says:

    So sad. If they had Oleander bushes in the divider all the way down 126 like they do closer to Santa Barbara it would help save lives.

  2. Jayme Aliano says:

    Why can’t people slow down and leave ample space between cars? (Meaning don’t ride the ass of the car in front of you)
    Condolences to her family?

  3. Ryan O’Connor, Sean O’Connor

  4. Jeanne says:

    We all know it is easy to be distracted. Kids in backseat, drop a cigarette (I don’t smoke) change radio, hope it was not cell phone. Or someone can slam on brakes in front of you. I am sorry for all involved. Horrible.

  5. Jeanne says:

    If we were all perfect drivers all the time there would never be “accidents”. The Oleander plants would help save lives.

  6. Melody Vito says:

    Same spot I totalled my car. The spot is a death trap. Who puts an intersection after a blind curve on a freeway?!

  7. tRAVIS LEVY says:

    Driver of the truck will get off . Where’s the justice in that. You caused an accident and killed someone. If our court system doesn’t want to put people behind bars for vehicular manslaughter then at least the state should revoke his license for a very and I mean very long time.

  8. I was coming home from Thousand Oaks to Valencia and passed by this accident as the firemen were cutting the people out of the blue Camry. I knew it looked really bad. My condolences to the family of the female passenger who died.

  9. Dolly Lopez says:

    growing up in this area my entire life, I remember when 126 was just a two lane road lined with huge eucalyptus trees and it was so dangerous at that time, there were horrific accidents on that road all the time. It seemed to be better when they widened it and straightened it out more–but recently, with all of these fatal accidents that keep occurring on 126 it seems to be just as dangerous as it ever was. Sadly, I only see it getting worse as they begin to build in that area. My condolences to the family who lost their loved one, and I wish a speedy and complete recovery to the rest involved.

  10. jeanne says:

    Maybe we need to lower the speed limit to 40?

  11. Jessi Brown says:

    Joseph Brown This why you were stuck for so long last night.

  12. Heard they call the 126 blood alley! Not sure saw it on the 805 news.

  13. Blood Alley—be safe out there, folks. It’s awfully dangerous, especially at night.

  14. Sue Jacobs says:

    The 126 is a deadly hwy my dear friends sister was killed by a drunk wrong way driver years ago my friend and her nephew survived but they were in the hospital for months!!

  15. Luis Galdamez Clara De Leon

  16. Brian Durand says:

    1000 fish in a bowl built for a hundred. So sad.

  17. Eric Bourassa Lemon IC

  18. Dan says:

    The new 20,000+ home development along the 126 in Valenica will only increase traffic and make matters worse. Blood will be on the hands of the County Board of Supervisors for giving the OK to this project. But I’m sure they got large campaign contributions from the developers, so that’s their excuse. I feel very sorry for the victims and their families in this accident. One cannot drive this stretch of road without the dangers coming to mind.

  19. Greg Medrano says:

    Thats at my street almost. Crazy…

  20. CFern says:

    As usual the sorry excuse for a human being, reckless driver that caused the accident went home to his family.

  21. Jeanne says:

    We don’t know what happened so save the judgment. He could have had someone swerve in front of him and cut him off and rear ended them because of that. We don’t have all the facts.

    I had a scare this week when I was leaving my home by David Way and Bouquet Cyn. I was going down Bouquet after making a right from David when as I came around a blind curve an ambulance was on the wrong side of the road with no siren coming at me. Fortunately there was a small turn out I dove for as I slammed on brakes. I was not speeding. I had just started down Bouquet. I was so shaken I almost called the Sheriff’s once I got to the Albertsons parking lot. There are only two lanes there one going each way at that part of Bouquet. The ambulance was trying to go around 2 others cars that had nowhere to go. Very scary.

  22. Holly says:

    Sharon Vaughn was the very first friend I made when I moved to Santa Barbara. She was the sweetest, kindest purest soul to ever walk the earth. She made me my favorite lemon cake for my birthday every year. I was about to call her to tell her something important today when I saw a text from a friend that this happened. This is unfathomable! She has a daughter, Amy who is in her late 20s. Tony was the sweetest boyfriend to Sharon. They worked through her breast cancer together. They were in such a sweet spot in their lives together. I am beyond heartbroken. My Sweet Sharon! This should not have happened.

  23. I was just having a conversation with my husband about this frwy having a rise in deadly accidents, a few weeks ago while driving home on it. I said they should put k-rails down the center bc it seems many of the deaths come from head on drivers. Several years ago, they did all those improvements, to improve safety, but forgot the most important part. Sad

  24. Laura Cordell says:

    Sharon was my cousin and I know I will never forget her. We were just get in touch with each other after several years. I will miss her

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration Time 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Progress: 0%
Stream TypeLIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
 
1x
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Monday, Mar 17, 2025
June 21: Santa Clarita Dodger Day Returns
The city of Santa Clarita invites residents to purchase tickets for the 46th Annual city of Santa Clarita Dodger Day.
Monday, Mar 17, 2025
Schiavo Advances Public, Victim, Small Business Safety Legislation
Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, D-Chatsworth, has introduced a legislation package which includes the Victim and Witness Protection Act (AB 535), Small Business Retail Theft Grants (AB 949), Police Pension Tax Exemption (AB 814) and protecting funding for crime victims (VOCA Funding Act) in the state budget.
Monday, Mar 17, 2025
March 17-22: Eight Productions Filming in SCV
The city of Santa Clarita Film Office has released the list of eight productions filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, March 17 to Saturday, March 22.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
The regular meeting of the William S. Hart Union High School District Governing Board of Trustees will be held Wednesday, March 19, beginning with a closed session at 6:15 p.m., followed by an open session at 7 p.m.
March 19: Hart Board Considers Appointment Fiscal Services Director
Join the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce for a Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting at Beyond Harmony Medical Spa & Luxury Aesthetics, Wednesday, March 26 at 4 p.m.
March 26: Beyond Harmony Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting
The city of Santa Clarita invites residents to purchase tickets for the 46th Annual city of Santa Clarita Dodger Day.
June 21: Santa Clarita Dodger Day Returns
The Small Business Development Center and city of Santa Clarita will host two Enhancing Your Digital Footprint series webinars, noon-1 p.m. Wednesdays, March 19 and 26.
March 19, 26: Enhancing Your Digital Footprint Series
Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, D-Chatsworth, has introduced a legislation package which includes the Victim and Witness Protection Act (AB 535), Small Business Retail Theft Grants (AB 949), Police Pension Tax Exemption (AB 814) and protecting funding for crime victims (VOCA Funding Act) in the state budget.
Schiavo Advances Public, Victim, Small Business Safety Legislation
On Wednesday, April 2 6-8:30 p.m., Serata Italiana, the renowned Italian language and culture club, will host an exclusive event at Total Wine & More featuring real estate expert Natalie Blancardi and a virtual introduction to Italian attorney Antonello Pierro.
April 2: Total Wine & More Hosts Serata Italiana Event
The city of Santa Clarita Film Office has released the list of eight productions filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, March 17 to Saturday, March 22.
March 17-22: Eight Productions Filming in SCV
The track teams of The Master's University maintained their strong start to the 2025 outdoor season at the Ross and Sharon Irwin Classic on Saturday. March 15 in San Diego. Five standards were added and 11 top-10 marks in school history were achieved.
Mustangs’ Track Teams Crush Point Loma Meet
The Master's University men's basketball team's season ended Saturday night, March 15 as the Southern Oregon Raiders defeated the Mustangs 76-71 in The MacArthur Center.
Season Ends for TMU Men’s Hoops
Old Town Newhall has earned its title as Santa Clarita’s Premier Arts and Entertainment District and has also become well-known as a hub for prime dining and shopping.
Ken Striplin | Stimulating the SENSES in Old Town Newhall
The Master's University women's basketball team's season came to an end with its first round loss in the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship Tournament on Saturday, March 15.
Season Ends in Oklahoma for Lady Mustangs
Braden Van Groningen collected 24 kills as The Master's University men's volleyball team came back to defeat the OUAZ Spirit 23-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-13 Saturday afternoon, March 15 in The MacArthur Center.
Mustangs Get to 4-0 With Four-Set Win Over OUAZ
1927 - Newhall telephone exchange, est. 1900, now serves 100 phones [story]
telephone
2003 - Lifesize sculpture honoring heroes of St. Francis Dam disaster unveiled in Santa Paula [video]
The Warning
1942 - Emery Whilton's Florafaunium opens in Lebec [story]
Florafaunium
Today in SCV History (March 15)
After the January wildfires, the county began a review to assess our evacuation policies and emergency alert systems. The state has also commissioned a review of our preparedness efforts, immediate response to the fires and the recovery time frame of the incident.
Kathryn Barger | Wildfire Analysis
Island Pacific Santa Clarita is gearing up for a celebration of National Lumpia Day with a lumpia-eating contest on Saturday, March 15, from 3-6:30 p.m.
March 15: Lumpia Eating Contest at Island Pacific Santa Clarita
The regular meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board of Trustees will be held Tuesday, March 18 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
March 18: Saugus School Board to Receive Measure EE Annual Report
After a successful pilot program in the Saugus Union School District, School Day Café has expanded the use of a new, eco-friendly serving tray option across all Santa Clarita Valley elementary schools.
SCV Elementary School Lunches Offered on Eco-friendly Serving Trays
In support of “Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life,” the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency is developing a Water Use Efficiency Strategic Plan to establish a comprehensive water conservation strategy.
March 26: SCV Water Hosts Public Workshop on Water Use Efficiency Plan
College of the Canyons Women's Tennis got back in the win column with an 8-1 conference road win at Glendale College.
Canyons Gets Back in the Win Column 8-1 at Glendale
The Michael Hoefflin Foundation for Children’s Cancer invites the community to join the annual "Walk 4 MHF Help Kids Fight Cancer" to help raise awareness and support local families affected by childhood cancer.
April 5: Annual Walk 4 MHF Help Kids Fight Cancer at Central Park
The Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society has announced that the St. Francis Dam Tour scheduled for Saturday, March 15 has been postponed until Saturday, April 26.
March 15: St. Francis Dam Tour Postponed Due to Rain
The city of Santa Clarita is enhancing local roadways with the upcoming 2024-2025 Citywide Major Thoroughfare Median Refurbishment Project on Plum Canyon Road.
City of Santa Clarita to Refurbish Plum Canyon Road Medians
SCVNews.com