Toddler, Teenager Die of Injuries in Separate Accidents; 2 Women Hurt

A 15-month-old Port Hueneme girl was killed Friday afternoon when she ran into the path of a pickup truck driven by her father.

Also Friday, the start of the New Year’s weekend, a 16-year-old boy died of injuries sustained when he was struck by a car Thursday night while crossing a Ventura street. In addition, two Ventura women were injured, one of them critically, in a two-car collision Friday on California 33.

The three incidents came as officials with the California Highway Patrol beefed up patrols on Ventura County freeways in preparation for the long holiday weekend and cautioned motorists about the dangers of driving drunk.

The weekend got off to a tragic start when Alfonso Delgado, 16, of Ventura, was struck by a pickup truck as he walked across Donlon Street about 11:50 p.m. Thursday. He died early Friday at Ventura County Medical Center, said Chief Deputy Medical Examiner Craig Stevens.

Delgado had just left his job at Hudson’s Grill on Telephone Road when he was hit by the pickup, which dragged the teenager through the intersection, police said.

Police said they are still searching for the driver, who paused at the scene and then drove west on Main Street.

Friday morning, two 65-year-old women driving in opposite directions on Highway 33 were injured when their cars collided near Edison Road.

The collision closed the highway for two hours. CHP investigators said Sonia Miller was driving her Toyota Corolla north on the highway when she veered into the southbound lane and struck Vera Cerny, who was driving a pickup truck.

Miller suffered head injuries and multiple broken bones, officials said. She was taken to Ventura County Medical Center where she remained in critical condition Friday evening, officials said.

Cerny, also of Ventura, sustained abrasions to both her eyes and complained of pain in her right leg, said George Myers, a spokesman for the CHP. She was first taken to Ojai Valley Community Hospital and later transferred to Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, where she remained Friday night, officials said.

Just after 3:30 p.m. Friday, 15-month-old Brenda Salazar died after being struck by a truck driven by her father, Isidro.

Isidro Salazar had just arrived home from work and was moving his Ford pickup truck when his daughter walked out of the house to see him, authorities said.

“He did not know [she] was coming out to greet daddy,” police chaplain Dan Green said.

Neighbors said they saw Salazar hop out of his pickup truck when he realized he had hit his youngest daughter.

“It all happened so fast,” said Robert Gomez, who lives two doors down from the Salazars. “He just picked up his baby in his arms and said, ‘My baby, my baby.’ ”

Gomez said the girl’s face was bleeding, but she wasn’t crying. Salazar ran inside the house and came back out to flag down a police car that was driving through the neighborhood. Gomez called 911.

Police are investigating the incident, but said it was most likely an accident.

The CHP stepped up its maximum enforcement period at 6 p.m. Friday. It will continue until midnight Monday. During that time, all available officers will patrol for speeders, tired drivers and people who may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

“This is just the beginning of the weekend,” Myers said. “The main thing is to pay attention and don’t take driving for granted. Always wear those seat belts.”

*

Staff writers David Kelly and Anna Gorman contributed to this story.