CAMARILLO : Hospital Employee Killed in Car Crash

An employee of Camarillo State Hospital was killed in a traffic accident near the hospital Thursday when her car struck another head-on as she was delivering lab specimens to the hospital, authorities said.

Nieva Albea, 54, of Oxnard was pronounced dead shortly after noon at Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, said Deputy Coroner Jim Wingate.

Albea appeared to die from chest injuries, but an autopsy will be performed today to confirm the cause of death, Wingate said.

She was driving on Potrero Road east of the entrance to the hospital when her car crossed over a double-yellow line and struck another car, officials said.

A second driver, whose name was not available, was transported to Pleasant Valley Hospital, a California Highway Patrol spokeswoman said. Both victims were airlifted from the scene, she said.