Three-car crash in Goleta leads to arrest of suspected drunk driver, passenger

Two men were arrested Wednesday evening for their part in a three-car crash at Hollister Avenue and Pacific Oaks Road in Goleta.

According to a press release from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, a vehicle with two male occupants rear-ended a vehicle occupied by a woman and her son at a traffic light. The woman’s car was propelled forward and collided with another vehicle with a single male occupant.

The two men who caused the initial crash fled the scene. Witnesses assisted dispatchers and helped locate the suspects at a nearby shopping center, where they were apprehended by sheriff’s deputies.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Damian Gomez, 26, of Santa Barbara. Gomez was arrested and could face charges for driving under the influence, driving under the influence causing injury, hit and run, hit and run causing injury and driving without a license.

The passenger of the vehicle was identified as Bryan Carreno, 26, of Santa Barbara. Carreno could face charges for battery after an alleged assault that occurred on a citizen during the course of taking the suspects into custody.

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A Lyft driver said he was the victim of a three-car crash caused by a suspected drunk driver at the intersection of Hollister and Pacific Oak in Goleta on Wednesday night around 7 p.m.

Roy Sutton said he saw the driver stumble out of his damaged car before walking away.

Witnesses saw a passenger walk away too.

Deputies caught them both and put them in separate patrol cars.

A mother and toddler were in one of the cars that was hit, both appeared to be ok.

Sgt. John Maxwell said with Thanksgiving a week away, the accident serves as a reminder not to drink and drive.

Sutton said he felt lucky he wasn’t hurt.