Juan Morales ID'd as Victim of Fatal Crash on Highway 101 near California Street in Ventura
Ventura, California (December 21, 2021) – Authorities have identified the man who died early Saturday morning following a wrong-way car crash on Highway 101 in Ventura as Juan Morales, 18, of Ojai. He graduated from Nordhoff High School in June.
The tragic wreck occurred at around 3:00 a.m. Saturday, December 18 on the northbound side of Highway 101, just south of California Street.
According to the California Highway Patrol, Jesus Manuel Calles, 29, of Santa Barbara, was driving a 2007 Honda Accord southbound in the northbound lanes when he collided head-on with a northbound 2008 Nissan 350Z driven by Morales.
A 2017 GMC Sierra pickup truck traveling northbound also struck the Nissan.
Ojai Man Killed in Ventura Crash on Highway 101
Morales was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, Daniel Bernal Morales, 18, also of Ojai, was taken to Los Robles Regional Medical Center with moderate injuries.
The driver of the pickup truck, Rodolfo Auregui, 18, of Oak View, was transported to Ventura County Medical Center with minor injuries. His passenger, Jonathan Luis Ramirez, 19, of Ojai, was taken to Los Robles with moderate injuries.
Calles sustained major injuries and was taken to Ventura County Medical Center for treatment. He was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter.
No further details regarding the crash were immediately provided.
An investigation into the accident is underway.