Santa Paula Man Facing Felony Charges in Fatal Motorcycle Crash in Ventura
LATEST UPDATE
Criminal charges were filed against 24-year-old Victor Martinez by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office in connection with the fatal crash on Kimball Road on July 22.
Martinez is charged with one felony count of vehicular manslaughter, one felony count of fleeing the scene of an accident involving death, one felony count of evading an officer causing death, one felony count of carrying a loaded, unregistered, firearm in a vehicle, and one count of hit-and-run.
Special allegations have been filed alleging that Martinez committed these crimes while released on bond in a pending criminal case, and a special allegation that he fled the scene of a crime.
Martinez faces up to 17 years in prison.
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ORIGINAL STORY
Ventura Police said they arrested Victor Martinez, 24, of Santa Paula for allegedly striking and killing a motorcyclist during a crash that involved two other cars and an earlier collision with an unmarked patrol car just after 2 p.m. on Friday
Investigators said the incident began on Highway 126 when Martinez struck an unmarked police car with detectives inside.
A vehicle pursuit ensued. The Ventura Police Department says at one point Martinez exited the freeway onto Kimball Road where nearby officers joined the chase. Martinez allegedly ran a red light and struck a motorcycle and an SUV as he crossed the off ramp’s intersection with Kimball Road. A third vehicle was also struck.
Police say the triple crash did not stop Martinez and he kept driving southbound on Kimball Road.
Eventually, Martinez exited his car while the car was still in motion, and fled on foot. An officer used his patrol car to stop Martinez’s car and then gave chase on foot. Authorities say Martinez dropped a loaded gun in the roadway while fleeing from police.
This narrative took a twist when officers lost sight of Martinez. Martinez was able to flag down a passing motorist, who was unaware of the incidents, and convince him/her that he had been injured during a fall and needed a ride out of the area.
Police, however, spotted the motorist on Telegraph Road west of Saticoy Avenue. The motorist yielded for officers who then took Martinez into custody.
Martinez was taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries before he was booked and arraigned on second degree murder, evading officers causing death, felony hit and run and felony in possession of a firearm.
Despite live saving efforts, the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the crash scene on Kimball Road. The occupants of the other two cars involved were not injured.
The California Highway Patrol is handling the investigation.
