Home › News › Conejo Valley
Crash victim was outstanding scholar
Download this story as a podcast!
STORY TOOLS 
More from Conejo ValleyAleysia Jenae Barrera was an academic star, a valedictorian of her 2007 high school class in Ventura and a young woman with a bright future, educators say.
All of that ended Thursday afternoon when the 18-year-old Santa Paulan was killed after the car she was riding in collided with a sport utility vehicle on Highway 33.
Barrera was taken to Ojai Valley Hospital, where doctors were unable to revive her. An autopsy showed she died of blunt-force head injuries sustained in the collision on Highway 33 at Willey Street in Oak View.
While the accident was still under investigation Friday, investigators suspect the car's 17-year-old driver, heading north on Highway 33, might have been trying to turn left onto Willey Street when an SUV traveling south struck the passenger side of the car.
Both the car's driver and the SUV's driver, Brian James Trushinski, a 47-year-old county employee from Thousand Oaks, were taken to Ventura County Medical Center with moderate injuries.
Barrera graduated in the spring from Ventura County Christian School in Ventura. Tanja Geue, the school's principal, said Friday that Barrera was a bright, focused young woman — someone who cared deeply for others.
Barrera had been a student at Santa Paula High School but decided to spend her senior year at the private school, where she flourished and became a valedictorian, Geue said.
In addition to being a top student, Barrera found time to play basketball and softball on the school teams.
Barrera had academic scholarships for Pepperdine and Stanford universities, said Lance Eppard, the school's athletic director. But she decided to attend CSU Northridge instead, Eppard said, partly so she could be closer to her family.
Posted by potatoebay on December 22, 2007 at 7:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A very sad story...
Posted by EagleEye on December 22, 2007 at 7:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What a tragedy. May the good Lord give her family comfort in knowing that they raised a good child. You live, you die, and hopefully you make a mark of a decent person like this role model of a young woman before you cross the river. Peace be with her family and friends.
Posted by dcsfancy on December 22, 2007 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is very difficult to turn left or even enter the hwy these days. There is more traffic and everyone is hauling a--. Slow down this is the second death this month on this hwy. Perhaps more police crack down is needed for the lead footed people.
Posted by fbgomerguard on December 22, 2007 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sad story its a reminder of just how dangerous driving is. Everyone slow down and practice a little grace on the road.
It was mentioned that the 47 year old driver was a County Employee. Was he driving a County vehicle? If not, why is it relevant to the story? Were the girls talking or otherwise distracted by texting or talking on their cell phones? I know that kind of information is rarely available at the time of the report
Was it relative that one of the vehicles was an SUV? I noticed there was nothing about the type of vehicle the victim was in. I think from now on the reporters should give the size and weight of each vehicle since that is more relevant than the broad category of SUV. Maybe they could give the make model or otherwise identify it as a subcompact sedan or mid size coupe. Reporters only started identifying SUV's around the same time as they became politically incorrect.
If you get hit in the side of the door it's bad, even if its a 600 pound motorcycle at 45-mph. Work out the physics, of course it get worse with the speed and mass of the impacting vehicle.
Most of the time SUV is just the shape of the sheet metal and the size of the wheels and tires on the vehicle. We used to call them station wagons. There are a few SUV's that are body on frame truck based, but most SUV's are car based and share the same platform as some sedans. The manufactures have a new marketing category called crossover since SUV is fallen out of favor. For example if a Toyota Highlander and a Toyota Camry were in a accident the Highlander would probably be named a SUV by a reporter and not mention the Camry as a sedan even though they are basically the same except for the shape of the body.
I don't own an SUV. I can't believe I just spent a so much time commenting on this story.
Posted by salvadors_girl on December 22, 2007 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
first of all what does all that matter, a child lost her life and a family lost their daughter. I know the family and there is no comfort when loosing a child.
Posted by dcsfancy on December 22, 2007 at 11:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"fbgomerguard" I was told that there was no airbag on the passenger side and it is possible that she did not have her seat belt on.
Posted by dawncongo on December 23, 2007 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lets not speculate on what may or nay not have happened. I am friends with the young girls father, please give him and the family time to grieve and lets wait for the facts. (I do know several of the facts but will wait till the accident report to comment.)
Posted by devilangelhawk on December 23, 2007 at 4:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
it is beyond the point of what they were driving and what they were doing. the main point here is that a young woman lost her life just as it was beginning. Lets not get off the subject here on a debate about how the reporters are doing there jobs.
Posted by pgonzales55 on December 23, 2007 at 5:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ali is my Niece and i ask that respect be in your hearts at this time on your comments a Daughter has been Lost in this tragic situation and we are trying to cope with our loss
i like to thank all the families and Friends with the over pouring of Love and Prayers
Posted by dawncongo on December 23, 2007 at 5:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well said pgonzales, I have been thinking of her parents and brother alot since I heard of the accident.
Posted by sweetly.unique on December 28, 2007 at 11:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
you know fbgomerguard this is a very uncalled for comment how could you! To Ali's friends and family my heart and my love pour out for you it doesn't matter how or what happen a beautiful well rounded young lady has lost her life and her loving parents have lost a wonderful child. There are no words to tell you how I feel for you you will be in my prayers God be with you my his love and comfort embrace you and give you peace and Love. God Bless
(Requires free registration.)
Article discussions on this site are to support community debates of issues related to our stories and editorials.
Discussions should not stray from the subject of the story or editorial.
We do not allow the following:
We reserve the right to delete threads and/or ban users for these or other reasons we deem necessary.
Opinions are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.