Fatal crash shuts down part of California 126 in Ventura County
One person was killed and four others were injured in the wreck near Santa Paula, CHP reports show.
At least one person was killed and four others injured in a crash that has shut down the west lanes of California 126 near Santa Paula since late morning -- creating a backup that left a pregnant woman having labor pains stuck in traffic until she was carried over the median to a waiting ambulance.
California Highway Patrol officials said the lanes near the Briggs Road exit are not expected to reopen until at least 6 p.m.
The incident took place about 10:40 a.m. when an overturned semi-truck crashed on the highway, possibly striking a smaller vehicle near the Briggs Road exit, according to CHP reports from investigators at the scene.
One person was pronounced dead at the scene and four people were injured, including one person who was taken to a hospital by helicopter, CHP reports show.
A pregnant woman who was not involved in the crash complained to firefighters of labor pains. She was driving with her husband when caught in the backup. Firefighters carried her across the road's median to an ambulance that took her to Santa Paula Hospital, said Ventura County Fire Capt. Ron Oatman.
The woman's name and condition were not available this afternoon, Oatman said. He said her husband was able to drive himself to the hospital.
molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com
