Two injured in crash, CHP books driver, 18, for DUI
by Lenny Roberts

Two Meiners Oaks teens were taken to the Ojai Valley Community Hospital Feb. 9 by ambulances following a single-vehicle collision with a tree in the 500 block of Fairview Road just west of Camp Ramah.
Jessie Lopez, 18, and his sister, Denise Lopez, 17, were transported by Life Line paramedics after their 1993 Nissan Sentra left the road at about 7:15 a.m. and rolled down a 30-foot embankment before crashing into the tree. Firefighters had to use the Jaws of Life to extract Denise Lopez, who suffered a 4- to 5-inch head injury. Medical sources said she was upgraded from guarded to stable condition Monday afternoon.
Jessie Lopez, the driver, complained of back pain, and was treated at OVCH before being booked into the Ventura County main jail on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Both occupants were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Steve Reid, who said the CHP always preaches not to mix drinking and driving. The penalties can be costly, especially for underage drinkers.
"This individual was determined to be driving under the influence, got in an accident, and seriously hurt his sister," Reid stated. "In a situation like this, where a person is underage, he's not permitted to drive with any alcohol in his system."
Reid did not reveal Lopez's blood-alcohol content, but explained that when a person under 21 operates a motor vehicle with a BAC of .01 - with .08 being the limit for those 21 and older - a one-year, mandatory loss of driving privileges is invoked by the state in addition to other penalties and fines.

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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