The SAPD sent out a sigalert yesterday morning warning residents to avoid the area of S. Main Street between E. Dyer Road and Alton Avenue due to a fatal hit-and-run involving a vehicle and a pedestrian.
On December 19, 2025, at approximately 5:35 a.m., the Santa Ana Police Department received multiple calls reporting a traffic collision in the area of 3000 S. Main Street. Officers responded and located a woman, later identified as Cecilia Janeth Sierra (31) of Costa Mesa, lying unresponsive in the roadway. Orange County Fire Authority also responded and pronounced Sierra deceased at the scene.
Based on the preliminary investigation, Sierra was walking eastbound across traffic lanes on Main St. when she was struck by a vehicle traveling northbound. While lying in the roadway, Sierra was struck by a second vehicle, also traveling northbound, which fled the scene. The driver of the first vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation.
The Santa Ana Police Department’s Collision Investigation Unit (CIU) is investigating this incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective J. Hernandez at (714) 245-8215 or the Santa Ana Police Department’s Traffic Division at (714) 245-8200.
In California, a hit-and-run involving death is a “wobbler” offense under Vehicle Code 20001, meaning it can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the prosecutor’s discretion and the driver’s criminal history.
Because the incident resulted in a fatality, the fleeing driver faces the following potential penalties as of 2025:
Criminal Penalties
- Felony Charge:
- Prison Sentence: 2, 3, or 4 years in state prison.
- Fines: Between $1,000 and $10,000.
- Misdemeanor Charge:
- Jail Time: 90 days (mandatory minimum) up to 1 year in county jail.
- Fines: Between $1,000 and $10,000.
Potential Sentence Enhancements
If the investigation determines the driver was also intoxicated or committed vehicular manslaughter (Penal Code 191.5 or 192(c)(1)) before fleeing, they face:
- Consecutive Sentencing: An additional 5 years in state prison added to the underlying sentence.
- Increased Prison Time: Total sentencing for combined hit-and-run and vehicular manslaughter can reach up to 10 years.
Administrative and Civil Consequences
- DMV Points: A mandatory 2 points are added to the driver’s record.
- License Revocation: A conviction typically results in a license suspension or revocation for 1 to 3 years.
- Civil Restitution: The driver may be ordered to pay restitution to the victim’s family for funeral expenses and other losses.
- Wrongful Death Lawsuit: The family of Cecilia Janeth Sierra may file a civil lawsuit for wrongful death, which often results in multimillion-dollar settlements in fatal pedestrian cases.