Ventura Freeway Crash Kills Driver, Passenger

A Pomona man and one of four passengers were killed when their car veered off the Ventura Freeway in Woodland Hills, struck several trees and landed against a retaining wall in the parking lot of Litton’s Guidance and Control Systems Division, a California Highway Patrol spokesman said Monday.

The dead were identified as driver Moises Perez, 25, and passenger Rigoberto Sanchez, 23, also of Pomona, CHP Officer Dave Kersey said.

Passenger Rosa Villegas, 23, was admitted with moderate injuries to Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where she was listed in stable condition Monday.

Passengers Maria Lira, 24, and Celso de Luis, 35, were treated and released, Kersey said. All reside in Pomona.

“This is a classic seat belt, non-seat belt case where those with the seat belts suffered moderate to minor injuries and the ones without seat belts are dead,” Kersey said.

The accident occurred about 10:30 a.m. Sunday as the group was traveling west just east of the Canoga Avenue exit. Perez lost control of the car, which was traveling about 88 m.p.h., as he swerved to avoid slower traffic, Kersey said.

Kersey said he found 19 beer cans in the Thunderbird, although not all had been opened, and “one passenger said in fact they had been drinking.”