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Two vehicles received major damage in a collision Friday in the intersection of West Harvard Boulevard and Steckel Drive when the driver of the Nissan ran a red light. The SPPD said the driver said the setting sun impacted his vision. |
Two-car collision in W. Harvard Blvd., Steckel Dr. intersection
January 28, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
A two-vehicle collision Friday occurred in an intersection on the west side of the city that had been recently updated because it had been the scene of other accidents. The male driver that ran a red light told Santa Paula Police he had been blinded by the sun.
The January 23 collision, according to Sgt. Jeremy Watson, the SPPD Traffic Investigator, occurred at 4:36 p.m. on West Harvard Boulevard and Steckel Drive.
Paulino Martinez, 56, of Santa Paula was eastbound on West Harvard Boulevard driving a beige 2007 Toyota Sienna when “He failed to stop at the red light at Steckel Drive.”
Watson said Martinez collided with the passenger side of a black, 2013 Nissan Altima driving southbound on Steckel Drive by Julia Lozano, 54 of Santa Paula.
“Both vehicles,” noted Watson, “sustained major damage. Martinez claimed the glare of the sun impaired his vision.”
A witness to the incident said one of the victims of the crash had to be extricated from their mangled vehicle by the Santa Paula Fire Department.
Friday’s accident was just east from where 87-year-old Earl Howard was killed in December while using a crosswalk in his motorized wheelchair. That accident occurred at about the same time and the unidentified driver told police he was unable to see Howard because of the setting sun.
The intersection at West Harvard Boulevard and Steckel Drive where Friday’s accident occurred had recently been updated with a more visible crosswalk area due to several accidents including a student that last year was struck and injured by a car.
