Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

DETAILS:
On Saturday, June 27, 2015, at about 6:10 a.m., officers from the Oxnard Police Department and EMS personnel responded to the intersection of Vineyard Avenue and Walnut Drive in reference to an injury traffic collision involving two vehicles, one being a motorcycle.
 
Preliminary investigation indicates that the Lexus RX300, driven by Young Yi, was traveling southbound on Vineyard Avenue in the left turn pocket at Walnut Drive.  The motorcyclist, Manuel Hernandez, was traveling northbound on Vineyard Avenue approaching the intersection.  The collision occurred when the Lexus turned left in the path of the motorcycle. 
 
Driver Hernandez, who was wearing a motorcycle helmet, was ejected from the motorcycle and sustained serious injuries including a broken leg.  He was transported from the scene to the Ventura County Medical Center where he is currently listed in serious condition.  Driver Yi was not injured during the collision.                       
 
Alcohol, drugs and excessive speed do not appear to be factors in this collision.  The collision is still under investigation.
 
If anyone has additional information about this collision, please contact Traffic Officer Manuel Perez at 805-385-7749 or via email at [email protected].

DATE / TIME PREPARED:  June 27, 2015 at 1215 hours

Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

DETAILS:
The Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit will be conducting a multiple location DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Sunday, July 19, 2015 at undisclosed locations within the city limits between the hours of 5:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.    
 Officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment with officers checking driver’s for proper licensing delaying motorists only momentarily. Specially trained officers will be available to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving. 
 
The Oxnard Police Department wants to remind all drivers to think before you drive and if you choose to drink, don’t drive.  In 2014, Oxnard Police officers arrested over 500 drivers for driving while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs. Officers also investigated 174 alcohol-related collisions causing the tragic and preventable deaths of three people.
  
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), checkpoints have provided the most effective documented results of any of the DUI enforcement strategies, while also yielding considerable cost savings of $6 for every $1 spent.  Nearly 90 percent of California drivers approve of DUI checkpoints.
 
Funding for this checkpoint is provided to The Oxnard Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reminding everyone to ‘Report Drunk Driver – Call 9-1-1.
 
 DATE / TIME PREPARED: July 18, 2015 / 1300 hours

Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

DETAILS:
The Oxnard Police Department has been awarded a $275,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long program of special enforcement and public awareness efforts to prevent traffic related deaths and injuries.  The Oxnard Police Department will use the funding as part of the city’s ongoing commitment to keep our roadways safe and improve the quality of life through both enforcement and education.
 
“We are grateful for the support we received from the State to maintain our commitment on traffic safety throughout Oxnard” said Police Chief Jeri Williams.  “This critical funding allows us to continue our focus on distracted drivers, drunk and drugged driving, as well as our commitment to working with the public on an education campaign and moving towards our goal towards zero-traffic related deaths,” Williams added.
 
After falling dramatically between 2006 and 2010, the number of persons killed and injured in California traffic collisions saw slight increases in 2011 and 2012.    Particularly alarming are recent increases in pedestrian and bicycle fatalities, the growing dangers of distracting technologies, and the emergence of drug-impaired driving as a major problem.  This grant funding will provide opportunities to combat these and other devastating problems such as drunk driving, speeding and crashes at intersections.
 
“Overall, California’s roadways are among the safest in the nation,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft.  “But to meet future mobility, safety, and accessible transportation objectives, we have to reverse this recent trend in order to reach our common goal – zero deaths on our roadways.  The Office of Traffic Safety and the Oxnard Police Department want to work with everyone to create a culture of traffic safety across the City of Oxnard and the state.”
 
Activities funded by the grant will include:
•              Educational presentations
•              DUI checkpoints
•              DUI saturation patrols
•              Motorcycle safety enforcement
•              Distracted driving enforcement
•              Speed, red light and stop sign enforcement
•              Seat belt and child safety seat enforcement
•              Pedestrian and bicycle safety and enforcement program
•              Warrant service operations targeting offenders with multiple DUI convictions
•              Compilation of DUI “Hot Sheets,” identifying worst-of-the-worst DUI offenders
•              Specialized DUI and drugged driving training such as Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE), and Drug Recognition Evaluator (DRE)
•              Court “sting” operations to cite individuals driving from DUI court after ignoring their license suspension or revocation
•              Stakeout operations to observe the “worst-of-the-worst” repeat DUI offender probationers with suspended or revoked driver licenses
 
Funding for this program is from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
 
DATE / TIME PREPARED:  10/08/15, 1000 hours

Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

DETAILS:
On Monday, October 26, 2015, between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., the Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit will be deploying officers throughout the city limits to conduct bicycle and pedestrian safety enforcement.
 
The Oxnard Police Department wants everyone to be aware of precautions that can be taken to reduce the number and severity of collisions involving pedestrians and bicyclists.  Pedestrians are reminded to obey regulatory traffic signs and only travel in areas where it is permitted and safe to walk.  Bicyclists should follow all traffic laws and wear an appropriate helmet at all times to minimize injuries in the event of a collision or fall.   
 
Drivers are also reminded to share the road and watch out for pedestrians and bicyclists as they travel on our roadways.  Extra caution should be used in areas of schools and crosswalks. California law requires drivers to maintain a distance of three feet when passing bicyclists.  If a driver is unable to give a cyclist three feet, due to traffic or road conditions (including the weather and width of the highway), the driver must instead slow to a reasonable speed and pass when doing so would not endanger the bicyclist. 
 
Funding for this operation is provided to the Oxnard Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
 
DATE / TIME PREPARED: October 25, 2015 / 2100 hours