VENTURA : 2 Festival Athletes Involved in Crash

Two Olympic Festival tennis champions were involved in a crash on the northbound side of the Ventura Freeway, south of California 33, at 9:25 a.m. Thursday.

The driver, Montgomery M. Heath, 18, of Santa Barbara was driving at 65 m.p.h. when he drifted into the center divider, struck a guardrail and swerved back across the freeway. Heath’s jeep struck a raised berm and traveled down a steep embankment, a CHP spokesman said.

Heath’s passenger, Peter Jesche, 18, of Montecito was not injured and walked away from the crash. Heath suffered a broken right ankle and was taken to Ventura County Medical Center.

Heath won a gold medal in the mixed doubles competition Tuesday at the festival, and Jesche won a gold medal in men’s doubles Wednesday, according to festival spokeswoman Angie Hultman.