A 40-year-old Oxnard man died in a crash on northbound Highway 101 in Camarillo early Tuesday, authorities said, and the driver of a second vehicle who fled on foot hadn’t been found.
The accident was reported shortly before 1 a.m. north of Carmen Drive, according to the California Highway Patrol.
A black 2007 Lexus IS 250 had been traveling northbound at high speed, witnesses told the CHP, when it made an “unsafe” turning movement to the right and hit a concrete wall, the agency said in news release. The Lexus rolled over into traffic lanes.
Just after the initial crash, a gray 2010 Ford Mustang traveling northbound hit the disabled Lexus. The Mustang then struck the guardrail in the center divider, officials said.
The Lexus driver was taken by ambulance to Ventura County Medical Center, where he died from his injuries. His name was not released pending notification of family.
The driver of the Mustang left the scene on foot and hadn’t been found as of 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, officials said. The CHP’s log indicates authorities checked with local hospitals in search of walk-in patients.
CHP investigators don’t yet know whether drugs or alcohol were a factor.
The incident closed northbound lanes for hours. The freeway was fully reopened around 9 a.m.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone who saw the crash or has information is asked to call the CHP’s Ventura office at 805-662-2640.