California Highway Patrol

On August 16, 2008 at approximately 5:45 in the morning, a major injury traffic collision involving two vehicles occurred on the Rose Avenue off-ramp from US 101 northbound.

Sergio Franco-Martinez, 21 years of age from Canoga Park, and his right front passenger, Osiel Hernandez, 20 years of age from Canoga Park, were traveling in a 1998 Honda Civic and were exiting from the northbound 101 at the Rose Avenue off-ramp. Javier Samarron-Villa, 43 years of age from Oxnard, was driving his 1989 Ford Aerostar, and was entering onto the US 101 freeway from northbound Rose Avenue (Rose Avenue cloverleaf). Due to Martinez’s excessive speed, he failed to negotiate a turn in the roadway and his vehicle slid across the off-ramp toward an adjacent rock embankment. Martinez’s vehicle then flipped and went airborne over the embankment. His vehicle then collided into Villa’s vehicle, which was already on the cloverleaf heading toward the US 101. Emergency personnel quickly responded to the scene and were able to remove all of the parties from their vehicles.

Martinez, and his passenger, Osiel Hernandez, was transported to St. John’s Regional Medical Center. Martinez suffered major injuries including a skull fracture and a severed right finger. His passenger suffered numerous lacerations to his head and face. Mr. Villa, who was the sole occupant of his vehicle, was uninjured. Martinez was subsequently arrested for felony DUI but could not be booked into the Ventura County Jail due to the severity of his injuries.

The collision is still under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.