California Highway Patrol

On February 7, 2010 at 9:56 am, a two vehicle traffic collision which resulted in two fatalities occurred at the intersection of Briggs Rd. and Santa Paula St.

Enrique Ibarra, age 56 of Ventura was stopped in his 1999 Chevrolet Blazer at a stop sign on southbound Briggs Rd. at Santa Paula St. Ibarra's passenger's were as follows: his wife, Maria Ibarra age 52, his daughter, Juanita Ibarra age 28 of Santa Paula, his 6 year old grand daughter (name not releasable), and Lupe Rivera, unknown age of Ventura. Rivera was Juanita Ibarra’s boyfriend. The Ibarra family was on their way to the San Fernando Valley to visit the gravesite of a deceased relative. Gabriel Salazar, age 26 of Santa Paula, was driving his 2004 Chevrolet pickup truck westbound on Santa Paula St. approaching Briggs Rd. He was on his way to visit a relative in Ventura.

As Salazar approached the intersection, Ibarra pulled out onto Santa Paula St. directly into Salazar's path of travel. Salazar applied his brakes and attempted to avoid a collision with Ibarra's vehicle. Salazar was unable to avoid the collision and the front end of his vehicle struck the left rear side of Ibarra's vehicle. Ibarra's vehicle rotated through the intersection causing Juanita Ibarra and Lupe Rivera to be ejected from the vehicle into an orchard. A CHP officer was the first emergency personnel to arrive at the scene. The officer removed the six year old girl from the left rear seat of Ibarra vehicle and began administering CPR until the paramedics arrive on scene. The six year girl and her mother, Juanita Ibarra, were both pronounced deceased at the scene by paramedics. Rivera was taken by Ventura County Sheriff's helicopter to Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC). Salazar was taken by ambulance to Santa Paula Hospital. Enrique and Maria Ibarra were taken by ambulance to VCMC.

Juanita Ibarra and Rivera where not wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision. The other occupants in Ibarra's vehicle and Salazar where all wearing seatbelts when the collision occurred. The intersection of Briggs Rd. and Santa Paula St. was closed for approximately three hours while the CHP investigated the collision. Alcohol was not a factor in this collision. The collision is still under investigation.