SP man dies on Christmas Eve morning from accident

Gaeta’s vehicle collided head-on with a car driven by Rosa Caldera, 26, of Fillmore.Both Gaeta and Caldera were taken to Simi Valley Hospital. Caldera was treated for minor injuries and released. Gaeta underwent emergency surgery for massive injuries but remained in extremely critical condition; he died of his injuries at about 4 a.m.CHP investigators said alcohol was not a factor in the crash but they are still trying to determine why Gaeta’s vehicle crossed the center line of the two-lane rural road. It is not believed that either Gaeta or Caldera were exceeding the speed limit at the time of the collision.Gaeta, a Santa Paula native, graduated from Santa Paula High School in 1991, where he was voted the “Friendliest Senior.” Employed as a tire center manager at Costco of Simi Valley, he is survived by his wife, Jessica; daughters, Rebecca, Breanna, Desirae and Serena; stepson Tim; parents, Peter and Eleanor Gaeta; grandmother, Josephine Duran; and numerous siblings, relatives and friends.Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 29, at Skillin-Carroll Chapel in Santa Paula; burial will follow at Santa Paula Cometary.