Speed and alcohol may have been factors in accident

Two Thousand Oaks men, both 21 years old, were injured when the truck they were riding in struck a pole in front of Ascension Lutheran Church on Hillcrest Drive at around 4 p.m. Mon., July 7.

"We were lucky this was July and not June when both schools (Colina Middle School and Ascension Lutheran School) would have been letting their students out," Ventura County Sheriff's Department Senior Dep. Rick Godfrey said.

According to Godfrey, Morgan McNamara was driving a 2004 Chevy pickup truck at about 75 mph west on Hillcrest Drive when he lost control and hit the pole, which holds a street lamp as well as electric and telephone wires. Chris Gurney was a passenger in the vehicle.

The street was closed between Rancho and Erbes roads for about three hours. Firefighters were called to extract the two occupants from the vehicle. The pole was severed and had trapped them.

McNamara and Gurney were taken to Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center.

McNamara was treated and released. Gurney was kept in the hospital to be treated for a broken pelvis and significant head injuries, Godfrey said.

The driver admitted to have been drinking alcohol, but the amount won't be known until results come back from the laboratory, Godfrey said.

- Nancy Needham