2 CRASHES ON HIGHWAYS CLAIM LIVES OF 4 WOMEN : 3 DIE IN REAGAN FREEWAY COLLISION; 1 KILLED ON 23.

Byline: Terry Kanakri Daily News Staff Writer

Four people died in two separate crashes Wednesday morning, including a Simi Valley woman driving the wrong way on the Ronald Reagan Freeway and a Newbury Park woman whose truck rolled on the Moorpark Freeway.

Three people died in a 4 a.m. head-on collision on the Ronald Reagan Freeway near the Madera Road exit. The second crash occurred only a few miles away at 9:30 a.m. on the Moorpark Freeway near the Olsen Road exit, the California Highway Patrol reported.

Diane Lynn Aloia, 40, of Simi Valley drove her white Mitsubishi Colt in the wrong direction against westbound traffic in the fast lane of the Ronald Reagan Freeway, said CHP spokesman Dave Cockrill.

Aloia's car collided head-on with a westbound black Chevrolet Corsica driven by Loraine Isabel Peralez, 22, of Bell Gardens. Peralez and her passenger, Diane Lisa Gonzales, 28, of Colton, died at the scene.

``The impact on the two cars was phenomenal,'' Cockrill said. ``The victims had little warning. On a freeway, you don't expect anyone to be coming at you.''

In the second crash, Yvonne Stenner, 20, of Newbury Park was northbound in a black Toyota pickup truck traveling 65 mph behind a truck carrying a load of aluminum cans, Cockrill said.

The leading truck lost some of its cargo, which fell into the path of Stenner's vehicle, he said.

``She apparently swerved to avoid all the material,'' Cockrill said. ``When she swerved, she lost control over her truck, and she got into the dirt center divider, and she overturned at least three times. She died at the scene.''

Stenner died from head injuries, according to the Ventura County Coroner's Office.

Stenner is survived by a brother, Derek, who also lives in Newbury Park.

Cockrill said the driver of the truck carrying aluminum cans never stopped after the crash. The CHP sent a patrol car to the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center in hopes of finding the driver but was not successful.

The CHP is asking any eyewitnesses or people with information to call 654-4571.

Cockrill said a motorist who was driving east on the Ronald Reagan Freeway noticed that Aloia was driving the wrong way for several miles and made several desperate attempts to catch her attention by flashing his car's lights, but to no avail.

``We have no idea why she was in the wrong side of the road,'' Cockrill said.

Greg Aloia, the husband of Diane Aloia, said his wife was born in Simi Valley and lived there all her life. He said she had left early Wednesday morning for work in bagel shops that she owns in Camarillo and Oxnard.

Aloia said he had no idea why his wife entered the wrong side of the freeway, noting that she has driven to work by that same route for years.

Aloia said his wife is survived by three children: Bill, 21, and Forrest, 19, both of Simi Valley; and Clinton, 17, who lives in Porterville.

Following the 4 a.m. collision, the CHP closed the westbound lanes of the Ronald Reagan Freeway between Madera Road and Collins Drive until about 9:30 a.m.

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2 Photos

Photo: (1--Color only in Simi edition) CHP officers surv ey the scene of a crash on the Ronald Reagan Freeway that left three people dead.

(2--Color) Sgt. Tony Viaropulos, left, and Officer Jerry Sawasaki inspect the truck that rolled, killing its driver, Wednesday on the Moorpark Freeway.

Andy Holzman/Special to the Daily News