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Oxnard Police Department
R. Jason Benites Scott Whitney |
OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
| INCIDENT: | Fatal Traffic Collision |
| DATE/TIME: | 01/09/2011 / 1720 hours |
| LOCATION: | Rice Avenue at Camino Del Sol |
| DRIVER: | Stephanie Pinkard, 46 years old of Studio City |
| DRIVER: | 22 year old female of Oxnard (Name withheld pending family notification) |
| PASSENGER: | 20 year old female of Santa Paula (Name withheld pending family notification) |
| VEHICLE(S): | Black, Lincoln Town Car |
| VEHICLE(S): | Black, 2004, Yamaha Motorcycle |
| PREPARED BY: | Sergeant Randy Latimer |
| CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO: |
Senior Officer Maria Peña, Traffic Unit, 385-7750 |
DETAILS:
On January 9, 2011, at approximately 1720 hours, officers from the Oxnard Police Department responded to the intersection of Rice Avenue and Camino Del Sol after receiving a call of an injury traffic collision involving a car and a motorcycle. Once on scene, officers found that a motorcycle, ridden by a female driver, 22 years old of Oxnard, and her female passenger, 20 years of Santa Paula, had collided with a Lincoln Town Car, driven by Stephanie Pinkard, 46 years old of Studio City. The driver of the motorcycle was pronounced dead at the scene. Her passenger was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center where she was immediately rushed to surgery and is listed in critical condition. The Town Car was carrying two passengers at the time of the collision. Both were uninjured.
Preliminary investigation indicates that the motorcycle was traveling northbound on Rice Avenue approaching the intersection on a green signal when the Town Car made a left turn from southbound Rice to eastbound Camino Del Sol in its path. The motorcycle was unable to stop and collided into the side of the Town Car.
The signal at this intersection is referred to as “protected permissive left turn signal”. The “protected/permissive phase” means that after the green arrow terminates, it is followed by a yellow arrow to indicate the exclusive left turn movement (“protected”) has ended. However, motorists will see a solid green ball indication without a red arrow so they can still make a left turn when safe to do so (“permissive”), as long as they yield to on-coming traffic.
It appears that the signal was in the “permissive phase” for left turning vehicles when the collision occurred.
It has not been determined whether or not alcohol or speed was a factor in this collision.
If anyone has information about this collision please contact Senior Officer Brian Woolley at 385-7749.
An investigation is ongoing.
Update to fatal collision:
DETAILS:
On January 9, 2011, at approximately 2330 hours, the Ventura County Medical Center contacted the Oxnard Police Department to make a notification that the motorcycle’s female passenger died during surgery. Her name is still being withheld pending family notification.
