The man and two women who were killed in a two-vehicle head-on traffic collision on Highway 126 last weekend were identified Monday by California Highway Patrol officials.
Killed in the crash were Carlos Sanchez Romero, 35, of Los Angeles and two Fillmore residents, identified as 30-year-old Esmeralda Escobedo and 53-year-old Maria Escobedo.
The crash happened about 1:30 a.m. Sunday in the westbound lanes of Highway 126 just west of the Ventura County line near Camulos Ranch, according to CHP Officer Carlton Streebel.
Sanchezromero was allegedly driving a 2015 Kia Optima eastbound in the westbound lanes of Highway 126 near Center Street when the car collided head-on with a 2012 Toyota Camry driven by Esmeralda Escobedo, according to a report the CHP report. Maria Escobedo was a passenger.
“For reasons still under investigation, the driver of the 2015 Kia Optima drove his vehicle the wrong way in the direct path of travel of the Toyota, which caused a head-on collision,” Streebel said.
“Both drivers and the passenger of the Toyota sustained fatal injuries,” the officer said.
Paramedics with the Ventura County Fire Department responded to the crash.
Debris blocked the entire roadway, forcing the closure of both sides of Highway 126 for about four hours.
Caltrans responded to crash and helped the CHP with traffic control.
The crash was being investigated by officers of the Moorpark CHP. Anyone who witnessed it was encouraged to contact detectives at 805-553-0800.
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