Tragedy hit the community of Fillmore Thursday when resident Danielle Barrett, 16, lost her life in a car accident on Grand Avenue, outside city limits. Barrett was driving a 2001 Jeep Cherokee just before 1:00 p.m. at a high rate of speed when she lost control of her car, ran onto the dirt shoulder, overturning several times before coming to a stop in an orange grove. Barrett, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the car and suffered head trauma and internal injuries. She was taken by helicopter to Ventura County Medical Center in Ventura, where she died that evening. Three passengers were also injured; Michael Castaneda, 18, and Torrey Phillips, 16, both of Fillmore, were taken by ambulance to VC Medical Center. Passenger Barry Meyer, 18, of Fillmore, was taken by ambulance to Santa Paula Hospital. All three were treated for minor scrapes and released.
Photo by Chris Egedi