COLLISION, DROWNING CLAIM 2 LIVES; PILOT HOSPITALIZED AFTER PLANE DOWNED AT SANTA PAULA RIVER.

Byline: Douglas Clark Daily News Staff Writer

An automobile crash killed a Castaic woman, and a pilot was injured when his small airplane crashed near the Santa Paula River on an otherwise quiet Independence Day weekend, police said.

On Friday, a man drowned in Lake Piru. Ventura County Sheriff's Department dive team members recovered the body at about 4 p.m.

The victim's identity was not immediately available.

Meanwhile, a 3-year-old boy was injured near Rincon Beach Park when he ran in front of a motor home, officials said.

Jennifer Hutton, 22, of Castaic died Thursday when her car collided head-on with a motor home near Fillmore, according to California Highway Patrol.

Hutton was eastbound on Highway 126 near Timber Canyon Road at about 3 p.m. when her vehicle drifted across the center of the highway into the westbound lane, authorities said.

Her car was cut in half by the impact with the motor home, driven by Paul Chapman, 46, of Port Hueneme, authorities reported.

Hutton was flown by helicopter to the Ventura County Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Chapman, who had minor injuries, was airlifted to Santa Paula Hospital, officials said.

The accident clogged traffic on Highway 126 for nearly three hours as police investigated.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department was investigating the crash of a small aircraft that went down at about 12:45 p.m. Friday on the bank of the Santa Paula River.

Will Morter, an employee of the Santa Paula Airport, said the plane went down east of the 12th Street bridge. The river is shallow and about 50 feet wide this time of year, he said.

Morter added that local pilots who flew over the crash site believe the plane was a Cessna 140, which is a single-engine aircraft with a tail wheel. Since pilots didn't recognize the plane, they believe the pilot, who was seen walking on the bank, was not local.

The pilot was airlifted to the Ventura County Medical Center, where his injuries were being evaluated, said the nursing supervisor. The pilot's name was not released.

The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to investigate the crash.

A year ago two people died while trying to land a small World War II-era plane at the small airport, which runs parallel to the river. While making a final approach to the airport, the plane's engine failed and the aircraft plunged about 400 feet into an empty field.

In 1995, a veteran aerobatic performer and former Navy fighter pilot was killed when his experimental aircraft crashed in front of thousands of spectators.

In 1994, a pilot and his 10-year-old daughter died when their plane crashed shortly after taking off in foggy conditions.

The condition of Austin Walgraeve, 3, was listed as guarded Friday at the Ventura County Medical Center, where he was airlifted after being struck by a motor home, officials said.

Austin was playing at Rincon Beach Park, where his family was camping, when he suddenly ran east across Old Rincon Highway near Faria Road. The boy was hit at about 9:25 a.m. by a motor vehicle driven by a 71-year-old Carpinteria man, who was southbound at about 40 mph, officials said.

Meanwhile, in Simi Valley, Ventura County firefighters quickly doused a grass fire near Patricia Avenue at about 1:30 a.m., fire officials said. Less than a quarter-acre burned.

Sgt. Ron Chambers of the Simi Valley Police Department said the day was unusually quiet.

``I think the heat is keeping people in the pool or inside,'' he said.