![]() Jeri Williams Chief of Police |
Oxnard Police Department
R. Jason Benites Scott Whitney |
OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT
NEWS RELEASE
INCIDENT: | Serious Injury Traffic Collision |
DATE/TIME: | August 31, 2013 / 2229 hours |
LOCATION: | Rose Avenue near Cesar Chavez Drive |
PARTY 1: | Joel Tapia, 25 years, Oxnard resident |
PARTY 2: | Leonardo Medina, 23 years, Oxnard resident |
VEHICLE 1: | White 1999 Ford Expedition |
VEHICLE 2: | Silver 2004 BMW 325ci |
LOSS: | |
PREPARED BY: |
Brian Woolley, Traffic Sergeant [email protected] |
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO: |
Maria Peña, Senior Officer (805) 385-7750 [email protected] |
DETAILS: On August 31, 2013, at about 10:29 P.M., officers from the Oxnard Police Department and EMS personnel responded to a collision involving two vehicles near the intersection of Rose Avenue and Cesar Chavez Drive. Upon arrival, officers found that the two vehicles involved were a white Ford Expedition, driven by Joel Tapia, a 25 year-old resident of Oxnard, and a silver 2004 BMW 325ci, driven by Leonardo Medina, a 23 year-old Oxnard resident.
Preliminary investigation indicates that the Ford Expedition was traveling northbound on Rose Avenue and the BMW 325ci was traveling southbound on Rose Avenue. For an unknown reason, the Ford was traveling at a high rate of speed and collided with the center median of Rose Avenue just north of Cesar Chavez Drive. The Ford lost control and continued traveling over the median where it collided with several trees. During the collision, Driver Tapia was ejected from the Ford Expedition and landed in the roadway near his vehicle.
When the Ford collided with the median, its left front wheel became dislodged and flew into the path of the northbound BMW where it struck its front end causing extensive damage. Driver Medina was uninjured during the collision.
Driver Tapia sustained serious injuries as result of the collision and was transported to a local hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. He is currently listed in critical condition.
Alcohol is suspected to be involved in this collision.
If anyone has information about this collision, please contact Senior Officer Maria Peña at 805-385-7750. The investigation is ongoing.