OXNARD : Elderly Woman, Man Die in Crash

An 87-year-old Oxnard woman and her 83-year-old brother-in-law, who was visiting from Northern California, were killed in a car accident Thursday as they headed to Ventura to shop for Christmas gifts.

The car’s driver, 80-year-old Lawrence Goodell of Oxnard, sustained minor injuries in the accident that killed his wife and brother.

The accident occurred about 9:30 a.m. when Goodell ran a red arrow at Victoria Avenue as he attempted to turn onto Olivas Park Drive, according to the California Highway Patrol. His 1990 Toyota was struck in the side by an oncoming car.

Gladys Goodell and Frederick Goodell, 83, were pronounced dead shortly after their arrival at Ventura County Medical Center, authorities said. Both were wearing seat belts.

A Carpinteria man drove the car that struck the Toyota and was not seriously injured, the CHP said.

Lawrence Goodell is a retired Oxnard High School metal shop teacher who has volunteered with crime analysis at the Oxnard Police Department for more than a decade.

Friends said he was extremely shaken by the accident.

“I spoke to him at the hospital and he was very upset,” said Joseph Bossoletti, a longtime friend and neighbor. “I don’t think the gravity of what happened had completely sunk in. He’s still in shock about the whole thing.”

Goodell’s brother Frederick was visiting from his home in Greenbrae, Calif. He was stopping in Oxnard on his way to Los Angeles, where he had planned to meet his daughter, Bossoletti said.