Malibu Safer Highway Group Memorializes Victims of PCH

BY ANNE SOBLE

A small crowd of local residents gathered in a vacant lot not far from a stretch of Pacific Coast Highway where four of five traffic deaths have occurred in recent months.

The latest was on July 16, when James Sorg, 39, who had recently moved to Malibu from Minnesota, was driving the wrong way at about 80 mph and crashed into a car driven by Oscar Avila-Mendoza, 23, a Seabee from Naval Base Ventura County.

The two drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. Avila-Mendoza’s passenger, Seabee Jesus Saenz, 24, suffered broken bones and a concussion.

Authorities are still waiting for toxicology test results to determine whether Borg might have been driving under the influence. Whether his action was intentional may never be known.

The event hosted by the group A Safer PCH, or ASPCH, featured a sage purification ceremony by Mati Waiya, a Chumash elder and director of the Wishtoyo Foundation, which promotes Chumash culture.

Among those taking part were people who heard the crash and ran to the scene to help the victims.

Several speakers said they wanted the families of the two Seabees to know Malibu shares their loss.

The week after the accident, a memorial service was held at NBVC Port Hueneme’s base chapel, for Steel Worker 2nd Class Avila-Mendoza.

The service gave 250 family members, friends and shipmates a chance to say good-bye.

Avila-Mendoza leaves behind his wife, who is pregnant with the couple’s first child. Saenz is also married, and he and his wife are expecting a child.

ASPCH was founded three months ago to seek ways to mitigate the dangers of PCH after 13-year-old Emily Rose Shane, who was walking along the side of the highway, was killed by an out-of-control motorist.

Charges against the driver, Sina Khankhanian, are wending their way through the judicial process.

ASPCH hopes to rally elected officials, public agencies and state government to work with Malibu residents to implement changes, including improved and increased law enforcement, installation of red-light cameras, and new means of protection for pedestrians. 

Ventura business owner Bruce Cannistraci was at the ceremony and told Malibuites they can contribute to fundraising for the two Seabees at Base Auto Parts across from the Port Hueneme base. Checks can be sent to 475 Channel Island Blvd., Port Hueneme, CA 93041.

Cannistraci said most of the nearly $2000 raised so far is from the two men’s own unit, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40, which left last week for Afghanistan—without two of their own who were preparing for their second tours of duty.