Goleta Man Arrested for DUI in Double Fatal Hit and Run
An online fundraiser has been created to support the four surviving children. Click here for more information.
Update by Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office
Last night, Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 39-year-old Eric Mauricio Ramirez Aguilar of Goleta for his connection to a hit-and-run that left two people dead. He was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail with a bail of $100,000 and his booking photo is now available. Below is a list of his charges:
- 2 counts 191.5(A) PC- Gross Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated (felony)
- 1 count 23153 VC- DUI Causing Injury (felony)
- 1 count 20001(A) VC- Hit and Run Causing Death/Injury (felony)
- 1 count 20001(C) VC- Flee the Scene of a Crime After Commission of Vehicular Manslaughter (felony)
- 1 count 23558 VC- Enhancement for Bodily Injury or Death of More Than One Victim While DUI (felony)
- 1 count 23152(A)VC- DUI Alcohol (misdemeanor)
Update by Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office
At 5:20 p.m. [Sunday] afternoon, Sheriff’s Deputies responded with County Fire and American Medical Response (AMR) to Cathedral Oaks and Winchester Canyon on a report of a vehicle that hit two pedestrians. While deputies were on their way, the driver of the vehicle ran from the scene and was last seen westbound on Cathedral Oaks. When deputies arrived, they confirmed that one of the pedestrians was deceased. Deputies then took over life saving measures for the second pedestrian. AMR and Fire arrived shortly after and took over care of the patient, transporting her to the hospital where she was later pronounced deceased.
Deputies assisting with the call searched the area for the suspect and two K9 units responded. At 8:30 p.m., deputies located the suspect who was the passenger in a vehicle in Carpinteria. The vehicle was stopped and 39-year-old Eric Mauricio Ramirez Aguilar of Goleta was taken into custody. The driver of the vehicle in Carpinteria was determined to be uninvolved with the hit-and-run and was released at the scene. Aguilar will later be booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail.
The decedents have been identified as 44-year-old Adolfo Corral Corral and 44-year-old Mary Jane Becerra Corral of Goleta.
The Sheriff’s Major Accident Response Team is conducting a thorough investigation of the scene that requires a section of Cathedral Oaks be closed to traffic. Cathedral Oaks has been closed from Winchester Canyon to Brandon until the initial investigation has been completed.
The Santa Barbara County Fire Department confirmed one pedestrian was killed and another suffered major injuries after being struck by a vehicle in west Goleta.
The collision took place at Cathedral Oaks and Winchester Circle where law enforcement is performing an investigation.
Traffic restrictions are underway in the area.
This is a developing story.
Hit and run at Cathedral Oaks and Winchester Canyon with injuries to two pedestrians. One is pronounced dead on arrival (black tag).
Related Articles
February 10, 2020: Fundraiser Created for Family Affected by Hit and Run
February 12, 2020: District Attorney Charges Hit and Run Driver
Comments Penalty Box
1 Comments deleted due to down vote
11 Comments deleted by Administrator
123 Comments
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Feb 10, 2020 09:02 AMSo tragic. This is an area where people are out walking all the time, with and without dogs, riding bikes, pushing baby strollers, etc. And people drive on C.O. like it's the 101. Thanks to law enforcement for making such a quick arrest, and heartfelt prayers to the family, friends and canine companion of the couple.
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Feb 10, 2020 09:20 AMI am baffled by the fact the passenger of the vehicle was responsible and the driver of the vehicle was "uninvolved".
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Feb 10, 2020 09:22 AMThat is referring to the vehicle the guy was caught in later they not, not the vehicle he crashed (which he ran away from on foot)
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Feb 10, 2020 09:23 AM*later that night
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Feb 10, 2020 09:45 AMExactly...! The driver was clearly "Aiding and Abetting" driving the scumbag out of the area.... WTH SBCoSD....? WHY was the driver NOT ARRESTED...????
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Feb 10, 2020 12:04 PMReading is fundamental. The suspect was *later* found riding as the passenger in a different vehicle. The driver of that vehicle had nothing to do with the previous incident involving his passenger (who was not a passenger at the time of the hit-and-run, he was the driver).
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Feb 10, 2020 12:07 PM@JQB- The driver of the vehicle that was driving the suspect (passenger/scumbag) out of the area was aiding and abetting a hit and run felon... Yes, you are correct- "reading is fundamental", look up "aiding and abetting"- it's a crime.
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Feb 10, 2020 12:08 PM"driving the scumbag out of the area" -- you have no idea where the driver was going. He was not arrested because there was no legal basis to do so ... we don't yet live in a fascist state.
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Feb 10, 2020 12:09 PMJQB - I think the frustration here is that, if the driver picked up the suspect and knew what had happened, then they could have been an accomplice. We don't know if that's the case though.
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Feb 10, 2020 12:12 PM"if the driver picked up the suspect and knew what had happened" -- which you have no way of knowing. "then they could have been an accomplice" -- an accomplice? It was a hit and run, and that person wasn't on the scene. "We don't know if that's the case though." -- we do actually; the police determined that it isn't. It's not "frustration" that drives CW, it's something far darker.
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Feb 10, 2020 12:39 PMI heard a transmission not too long after the accident that a black SUV was seen cruising the area, but it wasn't stopped or anything just noted. I don't think they took the license number down or anything. The stop was on Castis Pass at the 101 at the time I had no idea it was the suspect or I would have posted. This is one of the worst calls I have ever heard and I have been listening to scanners since the 70's..Rest in Peace Mom and Dad.
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Feb 10, 2020 12:40 PM"A criminal charge of "aiding and abetting" or accessory can usually be brought against anyone who helps in the commission of a crime, though legal distinctions vary by state. A person charged with these accomplice crimes is usually not present when the crime itself is committed, but he or she has knowledge of the crime before or after the fact, and may assist in its commission through advice, actions, or financial support. Depending on the degree of involvement, the offender's participation in the crime may rise to the level of conspiracy..."
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Feb 10, 2020 12:49 PMThe arrest happened more than 3 hours after the hit and run. The notion that the person driving the car at the time the murderer was apprehended was "an accomplice" or "aided and abetted" him in a crime, when that driver was not at the scene, is ludicrous. Fortunately, the police actually understand the law and other basic facts of reality. Give it rest.
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Feb 10, 2020 01:17 PMIf I knew someone who had just hit someone I would pick them up as well. Of course I would talk them into turning themselves in, but if it were a loved one, I would have picked them up as well. I am baffled by the $100k bond! It should have been $1mil.
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Feb 10, 2020 07:05 PMReading is absolutely fundamental. It wasn't until a while later, and reading several different articles, that I pieced together the time lapse and the vehicle change. My bad.
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Feb 10, 2020 09:27 AMIt looks like he is being held and the bail amount is $100k. Given that he may have killed two people and already attempted to evade arrest and fled an accident scene, that seems extremely light.
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Feb 10, 2020 09:47 AMAgreed. Anyone arrested for a hit and run should be considered a flight risk and denied any level of bail until seen by a judge.
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Feb 10, 2020 09:28 AMVery sad on so many levels. And the woman who died was a teacher at La Patera Elementary School. Rough day for that school community today, be prepared to talk to your kids if they are students there :-(
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Feb 10, 2020 09:29 AMOMG this is so sad.
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Feb 10, 2020 11:19 AMoh my goodness. what a tragedy.
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Feb 10, 2020 12:29 PMDUI driver, as per Noozhawk.
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Feb 10, 2020 12:38 PMHopefully this is charged as a double 2nd degree murder rather than some minor hit and run felony. Those two people were given a death sentence and the criminal needs to be given a life sentence.
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Feb 10, 2020 01:07 PMAnother Drunk Driving POS...
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Feb 10, 2020 01:17 PM6 Felonies and took the life of two good citizens 100 Thousand Dollar Bail..?
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Feb 10, 2020 02:11 PMRight only $10,000 up front and be is walking the streets.... That is too cheap for what he did.
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Feb 10, 2020 04:32 PMShould be at least a million if not no bail at all.
Its crazy hopefully this guy doesn't get bailed out. I get people are posting he has kids too but the kids are better off without a father like him.
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Feb 10, 2020 02:11 PMAguilar is a local guy with kids at a Goleta elementary school. Not defending his actions, but I'm sure that his bail amount took into consideration his family. A tragedy for so many.
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Feb 10, 2020 03:28 PMI hope that isn't the case considering, when he drove drunk and mowed over 2 innocent ppl, he himself wasn't "taking into consideration" his own family.
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Feb 10, 2020 03:37 PMI actually don't think that's the way it works, but.... I am also not a Judge. Bail should have been set at $1mil.
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Feb 10, 2020 03:49 PMBail is set depending on flight risk, not just the severity of the crime. If he has family here, it's likely they found him to not be flight risk, despite leaving the scene of an accident.
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Feb 10, 2020 03:35 PMPoor baby we ought to feel sorry for him because he has kids in elementary school yet he is a killer with NO FEELINGS for these other children as he killed their parents. If he had any consideration for anyone other then himself he would not have been DUI. This state is too damn easy on killers.. He bails out he will get getting drunk inbetween his required AA Meetings,
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Feb 10, 2020 03:52 PMRoger - no one is asking you to feel sorry for him. He sucks. He screwed up and ruined peoples lives and will go to prison for hopefully a long time. But the fact remains, he may have kids that go to school in Goleta. Imagine how they feel knowing their dad did this? This whole thing is just so awful I can't believe it. Try to have some compassion for ALL the innocents here. Our community in Goleta is mourning, please understand that.
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Feb 10, 2020 04:04 PMI agree with SACJON. Many years ago, I was also a substitute teacher in the SB and Goleta districts, and I can remember working with children whose parents were in prison. Aguilar's children are innocent victims, as well. So many sad things about this whole event.
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Feb 11, 2020 09:51 AMLiterally nobody has said we should feel sorry for him. I know you are emotional right now, but try to read more carefully!
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Feb 10, 2020 04:23 PMHow awful for the Corral family, for the students of the deceased teacher, and Aguilar's family who have a long road of healing ahead of them. Such a terrible and senseless tragedy.
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Feb 10, 2020 04:43 PMexactly my thoughts. who cares about the guy who hit them. let's concentrate on the families who have a LOT of healing to do.
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Feb 10, 2020 06:04 PMWhere had Aguilar been drinking prior to hitting them?
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Feb 10, 2020 08:29 PMClearly Aguilar screwed up here and his life is likely completely ruined as a result. It is interesting that people seem to think that being "local" and having kids relates to his flight risk and bail. I guess if he was a bachelor from Mexico everyone would vote to hang him on the spot. I'm not sure what the right thing to do with these cases is, but punishing this guy, while right and just, will not bring these poor people back. Could there be a way to make him atone by helping society end the scourge of drunk driving and car accidents in general?
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Feb 10, 2020 09:00 PMWhile noble, Ant Lion, your hopes are naive. Alcohol is not going anywhere, nor are the people too stupid to know when to not drive while drinking. Drunk driving and car accidents will be here forever. Nothing will make that go away. So yes, punishment is the only available option.
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Feb 10, 2020 09:37 PMOne thing that might help is much, much, MUCH higher penalties for DUI drivers. For first time offenders make the fines punishing and add some jail time, too. For second offenders, make the fines even more exorbitant and the jail time truly prohibitive.
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Feb 10, 2020 10:00 PMJob number one is to take him off the streets, as long as necessary. Public safety requires this outcome. You can argue punishment, restitution, revenge or rehabilitation as long as you want, but getting him locked up and to never cross our paths again is the primary goal. May be the best thing for his own family as well - can't have been a healthy role model, so for his own families sake, should not be seen also as innocent victims since his conduct was already victimizing them, as well as ours out in the public. If you don't want to do the time, don't do the crime. How today can pretend they don't know they should not drink and drive? Back to basics- it was his choice - addiction or not, to drink and get in a car and conduct himself that led to such unforgivable carnage. Yes, this is bad on all counts. But that remains the reason we have criminal justice systems so people know up from what conduct is expected of them.
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Feb 11, 2020 08:38 AM9:37, the fines are already pretty high, said to be about $10K for everything related to the DUI, including fines, increased insurance, court costs, lost work time, etc. High enough so that a reasonable person would change their behavior to avoid it in the future. The people still driving drunk are addicts who can't stop on their own. So now we need to identify them and take away their access to a car so they don't kill any other innocents.
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Feb 11, 2020 09:50 AMthat wont help
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Feb 10, 2020 08:53 PMMy two fears in life are virulent viruses and drunk drivers. This drunk driver sickens me, and I hope he is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I know someone who lost both parents when he and his siblings were young, very similar to this family. The older ones raised the younger ones, and they got through it together. My prayers are with them, and may they be surrounded by many who get them through this tragedy and launched into adulthood.
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Feb 11, 2020 01:32 AMIs it me, or have there been a lot of vehicle deaths/homicides this past year in SB County? I ask because I've been reading edhat a lot more recently and I'm wondering if that's affecting my perception, since they get reported here regularly.
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Feb 11, 2020 07:32 AMI hope the fact that he fled the scene ensures a life sentence. Glad there will be one less drunk driver on the road.
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Feb 11, 2020 08:24 AMIt won't. Even if served consecutively, the penalties for that whole list of offenses is only about 20 years, maximum. DUI laws are soft. Everyone loves their alcohol.
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Feb 11, 2020 08:54 AMHe didn't just get a DUI. He killed two people.
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Feb 11, 2020 09:48 AMhe won't get life in prison, but the penalties for what he has done are definitely not "soft"
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Feb 11, 2020 02:46 PMLook up the penalties for the codes charged. They are soft for an act of such recklessness. Essentially a slap on the wrist regardless of knowing your actions may result in the deaths of multiple people.
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