Roundup: Ventura driver dies in crash, more news

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

Driver dies in Ventura crash

A 34-year-old Ventura woman died in a single-vehicle rollover crash late Friday afternoon, the Ventura Police Department reported.

The accident was reported shortly before 5 p.m. in the 7200 block of Bristol Road. Officers found the woman’s vehicle on its side into a tree and the driver ejected. Lifesaving measures were performed but she was declared dead at the scene, the agency said. She had been driving a pickup truck, an official said Saturday.

Witnesses told police the woman had been driving erratically at high speed before losing control while trying to pass vehicles on the wrong side of the road, according to the department’s account. Her vehicle then hit a tree and wall.

On Saturday afternoon, flowers had been set at the base of the tree. The damaged block wall showed a section knocked out between the sidewalk and homes, with orange police markings still visible as rain fell.

The driver’s name was not released as of midday Saturday pending notification of family. The accident remains under investigation. Witnesses are asked to call traffic investigator Kyle Halverson at 805-477-3767.

Witnesses sought in PCH hit-and-run

California Highway Patrol officials are looking for witnesses after a bicycle rider was seriously injured by a hit-and-run driver on Pacific Coast Highway north of Ventura Friday morning.

At around 5:30 a.m., a 22-year-old Santa Barbara man riding a Trek bicycle northbound in the bike lane near Faria Beach Park was hit from behind, the CHP reported. The type of vehicle is unknown, officials said. The driver fled the scene.

The bicyclist was taken by ambulance to Ventura County Medical Center with major injuries. No update on his condition was available Saturday.

Authorities found pieces of a faded gray front bumper cover at the crash scene. They believe the piece broke off when the cyclist was struck.

Anyone who saw the incident or has information is asked to call the CHP’s Ventura-area office at 805-662-2640.

Matilija Canyon evacuations

VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Aviation Unit has been flying out residents of the remote Matilija Canyon community north of Ojai as people were stranded by storm damage, the sheriff’s office reported.

Since Tuesday, helicopter crews, along with the sheriff’s tactical response team and search-and-rescue teams, have helped evacuate residents as roads were blocked by flooding, mud and rocks. The area was left without power or drinking water and many homes had flooded, officials said.

Teams went door-to-door to help evacuate those who wanted to leave. As of Friday evening, 48 people, along with many pets, had been flown to Nordhoff High School in Ojai. Aid and services are being offered there.

On Saturday, additional helicopter flights headed out to Matilija Canyon as rain returned to the region.

Also Saturday, a hard closure was put in place on Highway 33 at Fairview Road in the Meiners Oaks area at 8 a.m. as weekend storms were expected to bring more damage, Caltrans officials announced Friday afternoon. The hard closure means even residents who live north of Fairview, who had been able to get in and out, will no longer be able to pass through. The duration of the hard closure wasn’t known, Caltrans said, but rain is expected to last through Tuesday.

In addition, Los Padres National Forest officials on Friday afternoon issued a closure order for four ranger districts, including Ojai and Santa Barbara, due to storm damage. The closures took immediate effect at noon Friday.

Items may be updated.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Roundup: Ventura driver dies in crash, more local news