Fillmore boy, 4, dies in 126 crash, mother arrested on suspicion of DUI
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Published: December 03, 2008
A 4-year-old Fillmore boy was killed and six other people - including the boy’s infant brother - injured early Friday morning in a Highway 126 crash that led to the hospital arrest of the boy’s mother for suspicion of drunk driving, according to a California Highway Patrol spokesman.
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Times
A 4-year-old Fillmore boy was killed and six other people - including the boy’s infant brother - injured early Friday morning in a Highway 126 crash that led to the hospital arrest of the boy’s mother for suspicion of drunk driving, according to a California Highway Patrol spokesman.
The crash, which occurred just west of 10th Street, was reported at 2:36 a.m. on Nov. 28, said CHP Officer Michael Untalan.
Lucia Cardoza, 24, of Fillmore, was driving a 2005 Ford Focus eastbound on the highway at an unknown speed with her two young children riding in the backseat.
“For unknown reasons, Cardoza’s vehicle swerved out of control across the traffic lanes toward the right shoulder,” where Officer Untalan said the left side of the vehicle slammed into a metal guardrail.
The impact caused Cardoza’s vehicle to “Rotate back into the traffic lanes” where it was struck by an eastbound 1998 Town & Country van.
At some point Ricardo Nuno Jr., Cardoza’s 4-year-old son, was ejected from the vehicle and was found laying near the center median by Santa Paula Police, who were the first on the scene.
“It was very bad,” said SPPD Sgt. Jimmy Fogata. “The officers said it looked like the boy had been thrown maybe 80-feet…they were really affected by it.”
Ricardo was declared deceased at the scene.
Cardoza, who reportedly was returning to Fillmore from her boyfriend’s Santa Paula home, was transported along with her 1-year-old son David to Ventura County Medical Center where she placed under arrest by the CHP for driving under the influence.
The four people in the Town & Country van – driven by Maria Rangel, 46, of Ventura – were transported to Santa Paula Hospital where they treated for minor injuries and later released.
After both vehicles came to rest in the eastbound traffic lanes, Officer Untalan said the passengers in the Town & Country van attempted to help the occupants of Cardoza’s car.
Cardoza underwent surgery Friday afternoon and was listed in critical condition. Her son, David, was treated and released Friday afternoon to relatives.
Officer Untalan said that the backseat of Cardoza’s Ford Focus held two child safety seats but the CHP was investigating whether or not they were being used properly.
The crash resulted in the driver’s side of Cardoza’s vehicle being smashed and part of the metal guardrail it struck mangled.
The eastbound lanes of Highway 126 from Palm Avenue to 10th Street were closed for about five hours while the CHP conducted the investigation and the debris from the collision was cleared.
The crash is still being investigated.
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