Suspect for fatal hit and run in Santa Barbara arrested

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Santa Barbara Police Department arrested a 55-year-old man in connection to a fatal hit-and-run Saturday night.

The driver, a Santa Barbara resident, gave himself up to police on July 4 at the Santa Barbara Police Department.

The 39-year-old victim, later identified as Juan Lopez of Santa Barbara, died after the crash near Cliff Drive at 11:39 p.m. Saturday, according to the Santa Barbara Police Department (SBPD).

Officers arrived on the scene after calls of an injured pedestrian in the road but later determined Lopez was struck by a car and sadly passed from his injuries later, explained the SBPD.

The man was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail for felony hit and run charges resulting in death and a misdemeanor charge of concealing evidence with bail set at $50,000, detailed the SBPD.

This remains an active investigation and the SBPD requests those with information to contact Traffic Investigator Kasper via phone.

Juan's family has set up a GoFundMe donation page that you can visit here.