Crime · Santa Barbara, CA
23-Year-Old Killed in Hit-and-Run on Mission Street Friday Night
A 23-year-old woman was struck and killed by a white Mercedes-Benz C43 while walking in the crosswalk at the northbound Highway 101 on-ramp on Mission Street, just after 10 p.m. Friday. Santa Barbara Police had observed the same vehicle being driven recklessly on West Carrillo Street moments earlier and attempted to stop it, but the driver fled. Officers located the car about two hours later and arrested 45-year-old Leticia Parra De Gastelum, who was booked into Santa Barbara County's Main Jail on $50,000 bail. The Mission Street on- and off-ramps and the area beneath the highway bridge were closed roughly nine hours for evidence collection; traffic resumed Saturday morning. California Highway Patrol is investigating and has not yet determined whether drugs or alcohol were involved.