BRIEFLY TWO HOSPITALIZED AFTER CAR HITS POLE.

OXNARD - Two Ventura men were injured Saturday when the 1989 Volkswagen Fox they were in hit a street light pole on Ventura Road north of Stone Creek Drive, the Oxnard Police reported.

Passenger Jose Miguel Gutierrez, 23, was listed in critical condition with severe head and internal injuries at St. John's Regional Medical Center. Driver Benjamin Raymond Hendrick, 24, who suffered a fractured right clavicle, cuts and bruises, was admitted for observation at Ventura County Medical Center.

Police said Hendrick claimed to have fallen asleep. The two-door vehicle drifted off the roadway onto the right dirt shoulder and then re-entered the roadway, rotating counterclockwise, police said. The car than slid sideways into a light pole on the center median.

Gutierrez, who was not wearing a seat belt, also suffered a brokenright arm.

Police are investigating the 2:10 a.m. crash.

- Daily News

Eight are arrested after drug probe

OXNARD - An investigation focused on a group believed to be trafficking tar heroin led to eight arrests Thursday, authorities said.

The joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Ventura County Combined Agency Team - comprised of federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies - resulted in the arrests of four county residents on suspicion of possessing approximately one kilo of heroin, authorities said.

They were booked at Ventura County Jail, then transported to Los Angeles and booked into federal custody.

Four others were arrested after authorities searched a residence in the 500 block of South E Street on suspicion of parole violation, failure to register as a sex offender, possession of a loaded/concealed handgun and possession of methamphetamine.

Authorities said the street value of the drugs recovered amounted to $95,000.

- Daily News