Rodolfo Auregui Hospitalized after Ventura Crash on Highway 101 near California Street
Ventura, California (December 21, 2021) – Rodolfo Auregui, 18, of Oak View, was among three people who were injured in a deadly wrong-way crash in Ventura early Saturday morning, authorities said.
The collision 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 Juan Morales, 18, of Ojai.
A 2017 GMC Sierra pickup truck traveling northbound also struck the Nissan.
Juan Morales, who graduated from Nordhoff High School in June, was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, Daniel Morales, 18, of Ojai, was taken to Los Robles Regional Medical Center with moderate injuries.
Auregui, who was the driver of the pickup truck, 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.
Traffic was stopped for an unknown period due to the accident.
An investigation into the accident is underway.