2 DIE, 1 HURT IN CRASH ON VALLEY ROAD; 911 CALLS WARN OF ERRATIC DRIVER.

Byline: Kevin F. Sherry Daily News Staff Writer

Two people died - including an 85-year-old Simi Valley woman - and a third was critically injured after a reportedly erratic driver crossed into oncoming traffic on Santa Rosa Road early Monday in a head-on collision.

Sadie M. Green, of Simi Valley was pronounced dead at Los Robles Regional Medical Center where her daughter, Arlene Brown, 46, of Oxnard was listed in critical condition, said hospital spokeswoman Kris Carraway-Bowman.

Just before the 8 a.m. collision, a number of people called 911 to report that the driver of a westbound Toyota was driving erratically, said George Orozco, a special investigator with the California Highway Patrol and a member of the county's Specialized Incident Response Team investigating the collision.

``We had recent reports that this person was recklessly driving just before the accident,'' Orozco said.

The Toyota's driver, George David Snider, 41, of Chatsworth crossed the double yellow line into oncoming traffic and slammed head-on into an eastbound white Ford Thunderbird LX driven by Brown, in which Green was a passenger.

Brown suffered multiple injuries and was rushed into surgery at Los Robles. After surgery she was taken to the hospital's intensive care unit, where she was listed in critical condition.

Snider was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene of the collision.

Investigators closed Santa Rosa Road between Vista Arroyo Drive and Vista Grande for more than three hours to conduct their investigation and to clean up the wreckage site.

The power of the crash was evident by damage to the Thunderbird's grille and front bumper, which fused into the front section of the Toyota.

Skid marks indicated that the Thunderbird locked its brakes before the crash on the straight, unobstructed section of the road, Orozco said. No skid marks were seen for the Toyota, he said.

Investigators were trying to determine whether Snider was driving aggressively or whether a medical problem caused him to veer into traffic, Orozco said.

``We have uncovered that he does have a medical condition that may have contributed to him going over the double yellow lines,'' he said. ``Maybe this was a medical condition that caused him to drive that way.''

The most common complaints by area residents on the 55-mph Santa Rosa Road are about speeding and people passing across the double yellow lines, said Officer Steve Neumann of the CHP's Major Accident Investigation Team.

Illegal passing has long been a problem on Santa Rosa Road, said Linda Reese, a resident of the Rancho Santa Rosa community off Las Posas Road.

``It's affectionately referred to as the kamikaze lane,'' Reese said.

Too many drivers ignore speed limits, said Karl Kesler, who owns property near the intersection of Moorpark and Santa Rosa roads.

Residents have battled the county about how or whether to make improvements to the roads in the area, fearing better roads will mean more traffic, Kesler said.

The Specialized Incident Response Team will now inspect the vehicles for mechanical problems, interview witnesses and prepare profiles of the drivers involved to determine whether any additional factors contributed to the crash, Orozco said.