Local killed in collision in Thousand Oaks

Authorities are investigating an accident that recently killed a Huntington Beach man in Thousand Oaks.

Christopher Smith, 45, was driving a 1999 Ford Crown Victoria southbound on the SR-34 transition road to the northbound 101 Freeway about 10:58 p.m. March 17 when he drove off the transition road and onto the 101 at a perpendicular angle, the Ventura County California Highway Patrol said.

The rear of the vehicle hit the asphalt shoulder, but the Crown Victoria continued from north to south along the freeway. It was broadsided by a pickup truck driven by Dwight Fuji, 52, of Newbury Park; his truck spun out of control. Both vehicles stopped facing south in the northbound traffic lanes of the freeway, authorities said.

Smith was pronounced dead at Los Robles Medical Center, half an hour after the accident. Fuji sustained moderate injuries.

— Candice Baker