“Tragic PCH Crashes Claim 3rd Victim: Natalie Stafford Identified as Deceased in Oxnard Double Crash”

Here’s a summary of recent incidents and announcements from Ventura County agencies:

Third Fatality Reported in Two Pacific Coast Highway Crashes

A tragic accident on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) on the Oxnard Plain over the weekend has claimed a third life, according to authorities. The victims have been identified.

The initial crash involving two vehicles occurred around 11:10 p.m. on southbound PCH near Naumann Road. One of the drivers involved in the collision was pronounced dead at the scene, as confirmed by California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials.

Sadly, a passenger in the same vehicle succumbed to their injuries at the hospital, stated CHP Officer Jorge Alfaro on Tuesday.

The driver has been identified as Scott Tenzer, a 44-year-old resident of Malibu, according to the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office. The passenger’s name has been released as Natalie Stafford, a 48-year-old Malibu resident, as reported by the agency.

In a separate accident that occurred at the crash site, a good Samaritan who stopped to assist was tragically struck and killed by an alleged drunk driver while crossing the lanes, revealed Officer Alfaro.

The victim has been identified as Cristian Aranda Jr., a 21-year-old resident of Port Hueneme, according to the medical examiner’s office. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to raise funds for the funeral expenses. The campaign has already surpassed $9,000 of its $10,000 goal as of early Tuesday afternoon. To contribute, visit https://gofund.me/ff9545f3.

CHP officials have stated that the initial crash involving a 34-year-old Ventura man driving a Volkswagen Golf northbound on PCH was due to the driver losing control of the vehicle and veering into southbound lanes. The Golf collided with a southbound Nissan Sentra carrying the two Malibu residents.

Alcohol or drugs are not suspected to be factors in the initial crash, and no arrests have been made so far, stated Officer Alfaro.

Approximately five minutes after the first accident, a southbound Scion FR-S driven by a 28-year-old Oxnard man collided with the disabled VW Golf. The driver of the Golf sustained minor injuries in both collisions, as confirmed by authorities.

The Scion also allegedly struck Cristian Aranda Jr. as he attempted to walk to the accident site. No witnesses observed the collision with Aranda. His body was later discovered on the median, according to CHP.

The driver of the Scion was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) causing injuries, according to CHP.

The investigations into these accidents are ongoing. Witnesses with any information are urged to contact the CHP’s Ventura-area office at 805-662-2640.

Teen Injured and Dog Killed in El Rio Collision

A collision between a big rig and a sedan on Vineyard Avenue in El Rio resulted in injuries to a teenager and the unfortunate death of a dog on Monday, according to authorities.

The crash occurred around 9 a.m. just south of Central Avenue, as reported by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The big rig, traveling northbound on Vineyard, was attempting to make a left turn into a private driveway, explained CHP Officer Jorge Alfaro.

Initial reports indicate that the sedan, driven by a young man, was traveling at a high rate of speed southbound on Vineyard when the collision took place, added Officer Alfaro.

The teenager sustained major injuries and was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center. Tragically, a dog in the sedan did not survive the crash.

Woodland Hills Man Pleads Guilty in Stalking Case

Derrick Toole, a 59-year-old resident of Woodland Hills, pled guilty last week in a stalking case involving two women he had dated, as announced by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.

Toole entered guilty pleas for two felony counts of stalking related to incidents that occurred between 2020 and 2021.

The first stalking incident took place in Simi Valley, following a temporary restraining order obtained by the victim against Toole in 2019. Toole placed a tracking device in her vehicle, tampered with her home door locks, showed up uninvited at her residence, and bombarded her with phone calls and messages, according to prosecutors. The Simi Valley Police Department conducted an investigation into the matter.

While the first case was under review, Toole began dating the second victim. When the relationship ended a few months later, the victim discovered tracking devices in her vehicle’s glove compartment and undercarriage. Toole plastered large posters of their text messages on her garage, fired a BB gun into her front yard at late hours, made uninvited visits, and bombarded her with text messages. Doorbell camera footage allegedly captured Toole entering the property while the victim was away and driving by the home at all hours.

Toole was arrested by the Ventura County Sheriff’s authorities in July 2021.

During the ongoing jury trial, Toole changed his plea to guilty on Friday, as indicated by court records.

Sentencing is scheduled for the morning of February 6 in room 24 of Ventura County Superior Court. If convicted, Toole may face a maximum sentence of three years and eight months in prison, prosecutors noted.

Please note that details may be subject to updates.