Roundup: Ojai man dies after scooter crash, driver in fatal 101 crash a no-show in court

Ojai man on mobility scooter dies after crash

An 80-year-old Ojai man who was struck by a vehicle Saturday while riding his three-wheel mobility scooter later died from his injuries, authorities said.

Ventura County Sheriff's officials said they learned of David Whalen's death Monday but it was not immediately clear when he died after being hospitalized.

The crash was reported around 3:40 p.m. Saturday near Grand Avenue and Lion Street in Ojai, according to Ventura County Fire Department reports.

Ventura County Sheriff's Capt. Rob Yoos said at the time the scooter rider, later identified as Whalen, suffered a head injury and visible abrasions to his arms. The injuries were not initially considered life-threatening but because of Whalen's age and out of an abundance of caution, the sheriff's Copter 9 flew him from Ojai to Ventura County Medical Center.

Sheriff's deputies also responded to the scene. The sheriff's office is contracted to provide police services in Ojai.

Sgt. Greg Cadman said Tuesday the crash investigation is still ongoing. The driver of the vehicle did stop and cooperate with deputies, he said, and drugs and alcohol were not considered a factor in the incident.

No citations have been issued but it is possible the driver could still be cited, Cadman said.

Driver accused in Hwy 101 fatal crash a no-show in court

A felony arrest warrant was issued after vehicular manslaughter defendant Cody Garrett Zornes didn't show up to a court hearing in a case involving a fatal crash on Highway 101 north of Ventura last year.

The Lancaster man didn't appear for the April 17 preliminary hearing in Ventura County Superior Court , the court docket shows.

Zornes, 31, previously pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and to three misdemeanor counts of reckless driving with bodily injury.

Zornes is accused of causing a fiery crash involving four other vehicles on the morning of May 15, 2023. The accident killed 50-year-old Ventura resident Jose A. Zarate Sr.

Zornes was driving a 2012 Ford-550 commercial truck in the fast lane of the northbound freeway going faster than 65 mph, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The victim had been driving a 2002 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck in the lane ahead of Zornes. Zornes allegedly struck Zarate's Tacoma from behind. The collision caused a chain reaction impacting three vehicles in front of Zarate.

Zarate's pickup truck was fully engulfed by flames and he wasn't able to get out of the vehicle, CHP officials said at the time. Other drivers, including Zornes, reportedly suffered minor injuries.

Joey Buttitta, spokesman for the Ventura County District Attorney's Office, said no action will be taken on the criminal case until Zornes is located and arrested. Law enforcement officers nationwide can act on the arrest warrant, Buttitta said.

Zornes had been out of custody on a $50,000 bail bond. In June, a judge had allowed him to travel to Indiana for work, court records show. He had been ordered not to drive.

Ventura man gets 5 years for criminal threats

A Ventura man received five years in state prison for making violent threats to an African American neighbor and committing other crimes during a November incident in their apartment complex.

Nathan Journigan, 30, was sentenced Thursday in Ventura County Superior Court after pleading guilty March 27 to felony criminal threats, felony preventing a police officer from performing their duty and a misdemeanor assault on a peace officer, according to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office. He also admitted to several special allegations and enhancements related to the crimes.

The charges stem from Nov. 4 when Journigan was arguing with his mother in a common area of the Ventura apartment complex where they lived. An African American neighbor opened his door and asked them to keep the noise level down, the DA's office said in a news release.

Journigan launched into racist language and threats of violence to the neighbor who, along with other residents at the complex, called 911.

When Ventura Police officers knocked on Journigan's door and identified themselves, no one answered. Because he had a prior conviction and was on parole, officers had authority to search him and his property, the DA's office said.

Officers entered the apartment using a manager key. Journigan told them he had a loaded gun and threatened to stab their K-9 police dog. Officers used a stun gun on the man, which brought him to the ground. Meanwhile, he grabbed a flat screen TV and flung it at officers, hitting one in the leg. Officers arrested Journigan after deploying the police dog.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Roundup: Ojai man dies after scooter crash, driver in fatal 101 crash a no-show in court