Car crash claims the lives of two men

California Highway Patrol officer Derek Midollo, a 38-yearold Oak Park resident, and a passenger, David Bjorklund, were killed Tuesday afternoon when their Ferrari crashed on Cornell Road in Agoura.

The Highway Patrol said Midollo lost control of his 1993 gray Testarossa in the vicinity of Wagon Trail Road. Speeding is being investigated as a possible cause.

Initial reports said Midollo's car hit a Ford Mustang, but according to CHP spokesperson Leland Tang, the only car involved in the crash was the Ferrari.

Midollo apparently swerved his car to the left on Cornell, crossed the northbound lanes and crashed the Ferrari into a telephone pole. The impact caused the sports car to flip into the air and onto its roof, Tang said.

The airborne car caused a large boulder to dislodge from the hillside and added to the damage, Tang said.

"The Ferrari sustained major roof and right-side damage," Tang said. "Both occupants were secured in their seatbelts, but due to the severity of the impact they succumbed to their injuries."

"Basically (the telephone pole) almost sliced through the car," Tang added.

Oak Park resident Diane Verner, who heard about the crash on the television news, was Midollo's neighbor.

"I didn't think it was Derek until I turned the corner to my house and saw the coroner parked at his house," Verner said.

Tang said an investigation into the cause of the crash continues.

"We have to piece the vehicle back together and then tear it apart," Tang said. "It's a critical thing we need to do before we rule out causes. There are always contributing factors and speed is always one."

Actress and local resident Morgan Brittany reportedly heard the crash as Midollo's car landed in front of her property.

The results of the investigation will be released in about two weeks, Tang said.

Midollo had been a CHP officer since 1995.