91-year-old mudslide evacuee dies after being struck by triple-DUI suspect

A Montecito mudslide evacuee who was struck by a suspected drunk and drugged driver on Jan. 23 has died.

Ted Johnson, 91, the founder of the Snowbird Ski Resort in Utah, was walking in the crosswalk on State Street in Santa Barbara when he was struck by a car at about 7:30 p.m.

Johnson had evacuated Casa Dorinda, a retirement community, and was staying at a hotel nearby.

He died on Monday and Utah news outlets are saying Snowbird was his vision.

A 26-year-old Goleta man named Nicholas Hart was driving a Honda Civic on a suspended drivers license due to two prior DUI convictions.

Hart will face additional charges related to Johnson’s death.

“He was a 91-year-old gentleman. He was very independent and active. In Casa, the evening of the slide, he was cooking meals and helping out. It is a great loss to Casa, his family and our community,” remembered Brian McCague, Executive Director of Casa Dorinda.

Casa Dorinda has 300 residents and hopes to reopen in early February, and when they do, they hope to do something in Johnson’s memory.

Johnson leaves behind a wife and son.