Two Santa Paula men were killed and a third was seriously injured early Friday when their car crashed into a tractor-trailer on Highway 101 in Agoura Hills, authorities said.

Joshua Dubon, 23, and Richard Vasques, 24, were killed in the 4:40 a.m. crash on westbound Highway 101 between Kanan and Reyes Adobe roads, said Lt. Brian Elias of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.

Soel Dubon, Joshua's 21-year-old brother, was seriously injured, the California Highway Patrol said. He is also from Santa Paula.

Dubon was flown to UCLA's Westwood Hospital for treatment, according to the CHP.

Highway 101 was shut down completely for about 30 minutes while the helicopter landed to airlift Dubon said Sgt. Dan Max of the CHP West Valley station.

Joshua Dubon was driving a compact car that crashed into the back of the tractor-trailer parked on the right side of the road, Bomar said.

The truck driver, Donald Swisher, 45, of Downey, had stopped on the side of the road because he thought he had a flat tire. After checking his tires and determining his vehicle was functional, Swisher had just gotten back into the vehicle when he felt an impact from its rear, officials said.

Dubon and his right-front passenger were pronounced dead at the scene. Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters had to cut the roof off the car to free the younger Dubon from back seat, Bomar said.

All eastbound lanes of the highway were opened immediately after the helicopter left, but two westbound lanes remained closed until about 8:30 a.m. Westbound traffic backed up for miles during the morning commute.

Swisher complained of pain in his shoulder but was able to drive away from the scene.

The cause of the collision was under investigation. Investigators found no skid marks at the scene, Bomar said.

The younger Dubon told CHP officers that he was asleep at the time of the crash, Bomar said.

According to the preliminary investigation, Soel Dubon was wearing a seat belt, but his 24-year-old brother was was not, Bomar said.



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