Man Killed, Friend Hurt in Car Crash

A 21-year-old man was killed and his friend injured in a car crash early Friday in Thousand Oaks, authorities said.

Herbert Roper was driving south on Erbes Road north of Avenida de los Arboles about 1:30 a.m. when he lost control of his vehicle and slammed into a row of trees in the center median, Senior Deputy Rick Godfrey said.

Roper of Thousand Oaks suffered massive head injuries and died on arrival at Simi Valley Hospital, Godfrey said.

Both Roper and his passenger, Justin McCombs, 20, were pinned inside the car and had to be removed by firefighters using large extraction tools, Godfrey said.

McCombs, also of Thousand Oaks, was in good condition Friday night at Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, a nursing supervisor said. He suffered several abrasions and was being kept overnight for observation.

Godfrey said alcohol was a factor in the crash. Coroner’s officials said toxicology tests will be done but that the results will not be available for several weeks.

Roper is survived by his mother.

Funeral arrangements were still being organized.