2 Injured When Car Swerves Off Freeway

A Moorpark man was hospitalized after his car swerved off the Moorpark Freeway in Thousand Oaks on Monday morning and rolled at least five times, authorities said.

Michael Burke, 36, was taken to Los Robles Regional Medical Center after suffering a broken nose, fractured jaw and spinal injures, California Highway Patrol officials said. They said they intend to arrest Burke on suspicion of drunk driving after his release from the hospital.

Burke’s passenger, 34-year-old Marty Lay of Simi Valley, was also injured. He was taken to Westlake Medical Center after suffering a fractured foot and possible liver damage, authorities said.

The accident occurred at 2:15 a.m. when Burke’s 1992 Nissan swerved out of the fast lane and onto the dirt shoulder of the Moorpark Freeway near Janss Road, CHP officials said. Burke, who was driving about 70 mph, overcorrected and turned sharply back onto the highway.

He then jerked the car’s steering wheel the other direction, causing the vehicle to flip over and roll, CHP officials said. Burke and Lay stayed in the car until authorities arrived and pulled them out.

Burke was listed in stable condition Monday night, hospital officials said. Lay was treated and released.