Suspect found after double Santa Barbara hit and run incidents

After two reported hit and run crashes Saturday night, Santa Barbara Police found and arrested a suspect near the second collision.

Several police units responded to the area of Helena Ave. and Cabrillo Boulevard about 6 p.m. after an accident that damaged the front end of a van, smashing in the headlight, fender and hood.

A suspect was found around the corner on foot and detained.

After a field sobriety test to determine if the man, believed to be the driver of the van, was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, he was arrested by police.

About the same time of the Helena crash, police learned the vehicle was possibly involved in a similar incident earlier in the evening near Gutierrez and Laguna streets.

No one was injured. The streets in the Funk Zone area where this took place had cars and pedestrians in motion despite the rain.

The investigation is ongoing and charges are expected to be filed by the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s office Monday.