1 dead after car crashes into tree in Simi Valley
A Simi Valley man died after crashing a car into a tree in Simi Valley on Tuesday morning, authorities said.
Police officials later said it appeared a medical condition caused the 65-year-old man's death rather than the impact of the collision.
The accident took place around 7:42 a.m. on Yosemite Avenue near Cottonwood Drive, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.
The man was driving a silver Volkswagen sedan northbound on Yosemite when he hit a tree in the center divider, according to Simi Valley Police Department Sgt. Josh McAlister.
The police agency's preliminary investigation found the driver suffered a medical issue that led to a low-speed crash, said McAlister, who oversees the agency's traffic bureau.
The man, who was alone in the car, was pronounced dead at the scene. His name wasn't immediately released pending notification of kin by the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office.
By late afternoon, police officials said they had found evidence indicating the medical condition caused the fatality, although the cause of death remained undetermined.
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All lanes were closed in both directions for several hours as police investigated the incident. The closures were lifted by noon.
Jeremy Childs is a general assignment reporter covering courts, crime and breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at 805-437-0208, jeremy.childs@vcstar.com, and on Twitter @Jeremy_Childs.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: 1 dead after car crashes into tree in Simi Valley
