2 killed in separate freeway crashes
Fatal accidents within one mile, 35 minutes of each other
By Daniel Wolowicz camarillo@theacorn.com

A Ventura man and a Camarillo woman were killed Tuesday afternoon in separate car accidents within 35 minutes of each other about a mile apart on the 101 Freeway in Camarillo.

According to officials with the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office, Hewell Watlington, an 84-year-old Ventura resident, and Gloria Genaro, a 72-year-old Camarillo woman, were the fatalities in the two accidents.

Shawna Davison, a spokesperson with the California Highway Patrol, said Watlington was killed in the first accident around 1:30 p.m. on the northbound side of the 101 Freeway just north of Camarillo Springs Road.

Davison said Doris Watlington, 80, was driving a 2004 Mercury Sable in the fast lane of the northbound 101 when she inexplicably drove the car across all lanes, traversed the freeway's shoulder and went over a steep 14-foot embankment, where she collided with a tree.

She was taken to a local hospital with moderate to major injuries, Davison said. Her husband, Hewell, was declared dead at the scene. Officials said Hewell Watlington died of blunt force trauma sustained in the car accident.

The Ventura husband and wife, according to police, were wearing seat belts.

CHP investigators partially closed the northbound 101 Freeway for about two hours.

The second fatal crash occurred around 2:05 p.m. on the southbound side of the 101 south of Pleasant Valley Road, according to the CHP.

Davison said Genaro, driving a 1991 Buick Century, was stopped along the right shoulder of the freeway when she pulled into the first lane of traffic directly into the path of a motor home driven by Manuel Sousa, 64, of Artesia. CHP investigators say it is unknown why Genaro merged into traffic so suddenly.

Sousa, in an attempt to avoid Genaro's car, veered into the fast lane and sideswiped a 2007 Chevy Tahoe driven by 43-year-old Burbank resident Jayna Mejia, according to CHP reports.

Genaro's car cut across the freeway and crashed into the center divider.

Rescue workers declared Genaro dead at the scene, Davison said. Officials said she died from injuries sustained in the accident. She was reportedly wearing a seat belt.

No other injuries were reported.