Motorist Charged in Fatal 4-Car Accident

An Oxnard motorist who allegedly crossed a double-yellow line to pass several cars on a two-lane road has been charged with causing a four-car accident that killed a Moorpark businessman, authorities said Tuesday.

Jose Chavez Camarena, 26, was arrested on a warrant charging him with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and felony hit and run in the Aug. 13 death of Karl Edward Gonser, 41.

Camarena, who was uninjured, left the scene of the accident on Moorpark Road, but an eyewitness trailed his car and noted his license plate.

California Highway Patrol officers later traced the plate to Camarena’s Oxnard residence and spent seven weeks investigating the case.

The accident occurred about 5:20 p.m. on a two-lane, uphill section of Moorpark Road, about a half-mile south of Tierra Rejada Road. Deputy Dist. Atty. Donna Thonis said Camarena caused the accident when he crossed a double-yellow line to pass a line of cars.

Camarena reached the crest of the hill just as Gonser’s southbound car reached the same point. Camarena swerved back into the northbound lane and Gonser lost control while trying to avoid a collision and hit an oncoming car.

A second northbound car also hit Gonser’s BMW in the driver’s side.

The driver of one of those cars, Kraig Granger of Simi Valley, suffered major injuries. Another driver had minor injuries.

Gonser, who was vice president and chief technical officer of Technical Data Corp. in Moorpark, was pronounced dead of multiple internal injuries at the scene.

Thonis said Camarena’s license was suspended at the time of the accident for a previous alcohol-related offense.

After his arrest, Camarena was booked into Ventura County Jail and released on bail the following day. His arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 22 in Ventura County Municipal Court. If convicted of both charges, he could face up to 10 years in prison, Thonis said.