Two People Arrested in Downtown Santa Barbara Hit-and-Run that Killed a Scooter Rider

Santa Barbara Police Deparment (EDHAT GRAPHIC)

Update by the Santa Barbara Police Department
February 26, 2024

After tireless work from the Santa Barbara Police Department’s Traffic Section and Detectives, on the evening of February 24, 2024, two subjects were arrested pertaining to the fatal hit-and-run traffic collision that occurred in the early morning hours of February 24, 2024.

34-year-old Salvador Jimenez of Santa Barbara – Felony hit & run and driving on a suspended license. Jimenez was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on $500,000 bail.

26-year-old Estefani Nava Guerrero of Santa Barbara – Accessory to a felony and destruction of evidence. Guerrero was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on $20,000 bail.

A third person was interviewed pertaining to this case and released, and charges may be referred to the District Attorney’s Office.

This case is still an active investigation, and the Santa Barbara Police Department is asking if anyone has any information pertaining to this case to please contact Traffic Investigator Edward Kasper at 805-897-3719 or ekasper@sbpd.com.

The Santa Barbara Police Department is working closely with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office on this case. No further information can be released at this time.


Scooter Rider Dies in Downtown Santa Barbara Traffic Collision

By the Santa Barbara Police Department
February 24, 2024

On February 24, 2024, around 2 a.m., the Santa Barbara Police Department Combined Communications Center received a report of an injury traffic collision occurring at the intersection of East Cota Street and Santa Barbara Street involving a vehicle and a motor scooter.

Officers arrived at the scene and located the subject, the driver of the motor scooter, lying on the road. Officers started life-saving measures until the Santa Barbara Fire Department and paramedics arrived. Sadly, despite all efforts, the subject was pronounced deceased.

SBPD’s Traffic Section was called in to investigate this incident further. This is an active investigation, and no further information can be released at this time. The decedent’s name is being withheld pending next of kin notification.

SBPDPIO

Written by SBPDPIO

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26 Comments

    • If they did turn themselves in, the PD press release should say so, because to leave it out sounds like they’re just tooting their own horn. I realize and appreciate that police and detective work had already been done to let the alleged perpetrators know to turn themselves in.

      About “arrest,” it can happen in the lobby of the station. I do believe “arrest” is the formal act of placing a person under arrest by a deputized or sworn individual (someone with the power to arrest; not getting into “citizen arrest” here) and the reading of rights. It doesn’t have to happen in a dramatic fashion or in the streets.

  1. Last nite I’d spent way too much time on google maps attempting to figure out where the “motor scooter” ended up, as I’d first saw this incident on a known persons “Scanner site”(facebook) that had the same photo as it linked to:
    https://www.noozhawk.com/moped-rider-killed-in-apparent-hit-run-collision-near-downtown-santa-barbara/
    Best I could come up with was that the pictured scooter & at fault pickup came to rest in front of Jill’s Place Restaurant which is almost all the way up to Ortega & SB street. I would have included my typical link to the Gmaps street view, but… I guess that’s quite a distance to be “dragged” all the way up from E. Cota. RIP Scooter person!

    • “John Palminteri NewsChannel 3-12
      2h ·
      A celebration of life will take place for Dane Angus, Friday March 1 at 5 p.m. next to the Cabrillo Arts Pavilion (118 E. Cabrillo Blvd.) in Santa Barbara. A memorial is up at the site of the fatal hit and run Saturday morning. Police investigators have made two arrests.
      Memorial for Dane Angus
      September 14, 1992 – February 24, 2024
      Dane Angus’s vibrant spirit touched the lives of so many and left an indelible mark on all who had
      the privilege of knowing him. His dedication and passion made him a true Navy Seal of Hospitality
      leading his team as the inspiring Production & Design Manager of Pure Joy Catering.
      We are so grateful Dane chose to spend so much of his short adult life with us, bringing joy to
      thousands of people, and creating countless memories for his clients, guests, and his coworkers, at
      nearly a thousand Pure Joy spectacular events that he was fully responsible for.
      Join us, the Angus Family, and Dane’s extended Pure Joy Family, as we gather at his favorite beach
      to honor and celebrate his remarkable life. Together, let us reminisce, share stories, and embrace the
      joyous memories Dane has left us with.
      Date: This Friday, March 1st, 2024
      Time: 5:00pm
      Location: 118 East Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara (playground next to the Cabrillo Arts Pavilion)
      Your presence would mean the world to us as we come together to celebrate the life of Dane Angus.
      From Santa Barbara Police:
      After tireless work from the Santa Barbara Police Department’s Traffic Section and Detectives, on the evening of February 24, 2024, two subjects were arrested pertaining to the fatal hit-and-run traffic collision that occurred in the early morning hours of February 24, 2024.
      34-year-old Salvador Jimenez of Santa Barbara – Felony hit & run and driving on a suspended license. Jimenez was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on $500,000 bail.
      26-year-old Estefani Nava Guerrero of Santa Barbara – Accessory to a felony and destruction of evidence. Guerrero was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on $20,000 bail.
      A third person was interviewed pertaining to this case and released, and charges may be referred to the District Attorney’s Office.
      This case is still an active investigation, and the Santa Barbara Police Department is asking if anyone has any information pertaining to this case to please contact Traffic Investigator Edward Kasper at 805-897-3719 or ekasper@sbpd.com.
      The Santa Barbara Police Department is working closely with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office on this case. No further information can be released at this time.”

  2. Just a matter of time.
    This past week my husband and I pulled to a stop at a yellow light. The second it turned red, a young man on a scooter with no helmet went roaring around the left of us and through the intersection just as cars were starting to accelerate with the green light. If a car had had some momentum and gone through the green, he would be dead.
    Then just yesterday, a young man came flying down the one way De la Vina with no helmet on and didn’t slow down to make sure he was seen by cross traffic. We were the first car and luckily saw him BUT he was very hard to see.

    • My (daytime) scooter guy vs. my large vehicle encounter had me tossing and turning with PTSD that night. (To those of you who may have read already this tale of mine in 2023, apologies. I am still amazed at what took place.) Here’s what happened: He was traveling on my right and then executed a quick left turn ——- right in front of me. I slammed on my brakes so hard, my vehicle slid sideways for a bit. Rubber was laid. He was (no kidding) about 6″ from my front bumper, once I had stopped, barely missing impact. Earbuds in, no helmet. He never even glanced back. Two days later I spotted this dude zipping along on the Goleta Bike Path. I flagged him down and we had a short discussion, all very cool. calm and collected, about why he had turned in front of me and very nearly missed becoming roadkill. It’s actually a pretty funny story, because the excuses he had were off the wall stupid. You’d better believe I keep a sharp eye on those E-Scooters and E-Bikes now. Cannot imagine how anyone recovers emotionally/mentally from killing someone with their vehicle, no matter whose fault it is.

  3. Rest in peace 😔 I have noticed how bikes and scooters don’t follow almost every traffic laws. The police should start saving lives by enforcing those laws. We all share the road and we all should be extra careful when we ride our bikes, scooters and cars.

  4. I have little doubt the PD put a lot of time investigating to ID the driver in this fatal hit and run. But, due to the differences in articles reporting what led to the arrest, the PD PIO should write a comment and clarify

  5. Driver pleaded not guilty at arraignment. Oughta be interesting, seeing that he dragged the scooter under his truck for a distance before abandoning the truck and fleeing.

    I’m not saying that’s the whole story. I had a scooter rider turn in front of me while driving yesterday, and he avoided being squished only because I was watching him and anticipating his move. But you don’t hit a motorized scooter of the size that this guy hit then drag it under the front of your truck for a bit, then flee the scene without helping the victim without knowing you just hit someone.

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