Somis, CA (May 2, 2024) — A tragic multi-vehicle collision on Highway 118 west of Balcom Canyon Road resulted in the death of one driver and injuries to four others on Thursday afternoon. The victim killed in the accident was identified as 43-year-old Cristobal Sanchez-Perez of Los Angeles.
Incident Overview: The accident occurred shortly after 3:15 p.m. between Somis and Moorpark. Three of the four vehicles involved were traveling eastbound: a Ford Raptor pickup truck, a Honda Civic, and a Ford Transit-250 van. As traffic slowed in front of them, the Raptor and Civic both decelerated. However, the Transit van driver did not react quickly enough and veered left, striking the rear of the Civic before crossing into the opposite lane and crashing head-on with an oncoming Toyota Highlander.
The impact caused the Civic to rear-end the Raptor, and Ventura County firefighters found three passengers trapped in the Highlander and a fourth person trapped in another vehicle. Despite the firefighters’ efforts to extract him from the wreckage, the driver of the Highlander, Cristobal Sanchez-Perez, was declared dead at the scene. His passengers sustained moderate injuries and were helped out of the vehicle. The drivers of the Raptor and the Civic were mostly uninjured.
Investigation and Legal Considerations: California Highway Patrol Officer Ryan Ayers reported that no arrests have been made and investigators do not believe drugs or alcohol were contributing factors in the crash. The investigation will focus on the Transit van driver’s failure to react in time, leading to the chain of events that culminated in the fatal head-on collision. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, Sanchez-Perez’s family could pursue a wrongful death claim to seek compensation for emotional trauma, funeral expenses, and other damages stemming from the accident. Additionally, the other drivers could potentially file a personal injury claim for their medical expenses, lost wages, and more.
My sincerest condolences go out to the family and friends of Cristobal Sanchez-Perez. The family has setup a GoFundMe to help with funeral costs, so please assist them if you can. I also wish the other victims injured in the accident a speedy recovery.
Source: Ventura County Star