Two girls were hospitalized in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle in Port Hueneme on Halloween night, and as of Sunday both remained in grave condition at a local hospital. The collision happened around 7:19 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of North Ventura Road and East Clara Street, just blocks from where trick-or-treaters would have been out across the city.
Responding officers found the two juvenile girls suffering from major injuries after they were hit by a vehicle, according to KTLA. Both victims were rushed to a local hospital, where they remained in critical condition as of Sunday, the outlet reported. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, and police said they do not believe alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash.
Investigators Still Piecing Together What Happened
Detectives and traffic investigators responded to the scene to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash, but the station's report notes that authorities have not released the girls’ ages or additional details about how the collision occurred. The investigation remains ongoing, and no further information about the sequence of events has been made public.
The intersection where the girls were hit sits near Hueneme Elementary School, according to The Modesto Bee, a detail that has only heightened concern among residents in the area. North Ventura Road is a heavily traveled corridor through the city, and the crash occurred as families throughout the neighborhood would have been walking door to door for Halloween.
Not the First Serious Crash on Port Hueneme Streets
This is not the first time a Port Hueneme street has turned deadly for someone on foot. In December 2020, a man died after being struck by a vehicle while crossing a busy road in the city, in an incident reported shortly after 10 p.m. just south of Ventura Road and Channel Islands Boulevard, according to the Ventura County Star. In that case, too, the driver stayed at the scene, and alcohol and drugs did not appear to be a factor.
Just over a week before Saturday's crash, a hit-and-run collision killed a pedestrian in nearby Oxnard on Oct. 22, happening at the intersection of East Gonzales Road and Snow Avenue around 10:53 p.m., KTLA also reported. That case involved a DUI suspect and remains separate from the Port Hueneme investigation, but it underscores a difficult stretch for pedestrian safety across Ventura County in recent weeks.
No charges, citations, or determination of fault have been announced in connection with Saturday's crash, and police have not said how the collision unfolded. Anyone with information is urged to contact Senior Officer Anthony Martinez at 805-986-6530 or [email protected].
