Elderly Man Dies After Being Hit by Drunk Driver

Ted Johnson (Photo: Snowbird)

A 91-year-old Montecito man died from his injuries on Tuesday after being hit by an alleged third-time drunk driver earlier this month.

On the evening of January 23rd, Nicholas Burnell Hart, a 26-year-old Goleta resident, was traveling southbound on State Street at a high rate of speed when his vehicle struck and severely injured a pedestrian.

The pedestrian has now been identified as George “Ted” Johnson, a resident of Casa Dorinda who was displaced by the Montecito mudslide at the time of the incident. He died on Tuesday from these injuries.

Johnson was the co-founder of Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort in Holladay, Utah. Almost everything at Snowbird – from the Tram to the village to the spirit of Snowbird’s first employees – started with Ted,” said Snowbird President and CEO Bob Bonar, who worked for Ted before the resort opened. “It was Ted’s vision, intellect, endearing personality and persistence that brought Snowbird to life.”

Affectionately known as the Silver Fox, one of Snowbird’s iconic runs from Hidden Peak to the base is named in Johnson’s honor. Ted is survived by his wife Shirley, his children, Peter and Kylie, and three grandchildren as well as his partner and spouse at the time of Snowbird’s opening, Wilma. A celebration of Johnson’s life is being planned for this spring, according to Snowbird Resort. 

Johnson was attempting to cross the street in a marked crosswalk at the intersection of State Street and Micheltorena Street when Hart, driving a 2003 Honda Civic with a suspended license, struck him. 

At the time of the incident, Santa Barbara Police found Hart to be driving under the influence of alcohol and also believed him to be influenced by prescription drugs. His blood alcohol content was approximately three times above the legal limit and he also had in his possession an open bottle of alcohol and marijuana. Hart’s license had been suspended because of two prior DUI convictions. This was his third DUI arrest in just under 3 years.

District Attorney Joyce E. Dudley announced today that Hart has been charged, in an amended complaint, with Murder in the Second Degree, Gross Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and/or Drugs Causing Injury with the Special Allegation that Death was Caused. Additionally, he was charged with Driving on a Suspended License.

Prior to Johnson’s death, Hart was arraigned on felony charges of Driving Under the Influence and Causing Injury. After Johnson’s death those charges were amended. 

Hart was arraigned on the amended complaint in Department 10 of the Santa Barbara Superior Court on February 1, 2018.

Past Articles

• January 24, 2018: Third-Time DUI Suspect Critically Injures 91-Year-Old Man