Roundup: Pedestrian killed in Ventura, Camarillo man charged with fraud, more news

Jeremy Childs, Ventura County Star
·2 min read
Police tape blocked off the scene of a fatal collision involving a pedestrian Wednesday morning at Ocean and Jordan avenues in Ventura.
Police tape blocked off the scene of a fatal collision involving a pedestrian Wednesday morning at Ocean and Jordan avenues in Ventura.

Here's a roundup of recent incidents and announcements from Ventura County agencies:

Pedestrian dies in Ventura crash

VENTURA – An 80-year-old Ventura man died after he was hit by a car on Wednesday morning.

The accident occurred around 7:50 a.m. at the intersection of Ocean and Jordan avenues, according to the Ventura Police Department.

The victim was crossing the street when he was hit by a driver heading eastbound on Ocean Avenue. The driver stopped to help render aid before the pedestrian was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The victim's name was not immediately released by the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office. Anyone with information about the incident can call traffic collision investigator Keith Therrien at 805-339-4437.

The Ventura Police Department investigated a pedestrian fatality at Ocean and Jordan avenues Wednesday morning.
The Ventura Police Department investigated a pedestrian fatality at Ocean and Jordan avenues Wednesday morning.

Camarillo man charged in embezzlement scheme

VENTURA – A Camarillo man was charged Tuesday with embezzling money from the Ventura medical facility where he worked, according to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

Gabriel Garcia, 52, pleaded not guilty to 19 counts of forgery as well as charges of grand theft and fraud during an arraignment hearing.

Garcia worked for 14 years at Coastal Metabolic Research Centre as the operations manager. He is accused of writing checks payable to fake patients and vendors for the business and depositing the checks into his personal accounts. In total, Garcia is suspected of embezzling over $447,000 through more than 1,120 fraudulent checks.

Garcia is next due in court on Jan. 13 in room 12 of Ventura County Superior Court. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years and eight months in state prison, prosecutors said.

Oxnard road closures for half-marathon on Sunday

The 15th annual Santa to the Sea half-marathon will start at Santa's Village on Ventura Boulevard in Nyeland Acres on Sunday, with road closures planned along many Oxnard streets.
The 15th annual Santa to the Sea half-marathon will start at Santa's Village on Ventura Boulevard in Nyeland Acres on Sunday, with road closures planned along many Oxnard streets.

OXNARD – The Oxnard Police Department will close several roads for traffic control during the Santa to the Sea half-marathon on Sunday morning.

The closures are expected to be in place before the race begins at 7:30 a.m. Drivers could face delays.

The following roads will be impacted:

  • Rice Avenue at Sturgis Road

  • Rose Avenue at Camino Del Sol

  • Fifth Avenue at Hobson Way

  • Ventura Road at Ninth Street

  • Wooley Road at Patterson Road

  • Victoria Avenue at Wooley Road

  • Harbor Boulevard at Wooley Road

Rose Avenue and Rice Avenue are expected to reopen by 9:30 a.m., with all roadways reopened by 10:30 a.m.

Drivers are encouraged to use Oxnard Boulevard to travel north and south, as the road will be unaffected by the race.

Anyone with any questions about the traffic plan can call Cpl. Mike Wood at 805-385-7749 or email mike.wood@oxnardpd.org.

Jeremy Childs is a general assignment reporter covering courts, crime and breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at 805-437-0208, jeremy.childs@vcstar.com, and on Twitter @Jeremy_Childs.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Camarillo, California, man charged in embezzlement scheme