A hit and run driver killed a woman in a wheelchair but then cooperated with the SAPD

On January 9, 2026, at approximately 6:33 p.m., the Santa Ana Police Department received multiple calls regarding a traffic collision in the 600 block of N. Grand Avenue.

Officers, along with Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), responded to the scene and located the 55-year-old woman from Santa Ana, lying in the roadway with significant injuries. OCFA transported her to a local hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.

Based on the preliminary investigation, the pedestrian was crossing westbound on Grand Ave. when she was struck by a vehicle traveling northbound. The driver fled the scene but later returned and cooperated with the investigation.

The Santa Ana Police Department Collision Investigation Unit (CIU) is investigating this incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective K. Catlin at (714) 245 8224 or the Santa Ana Police Department Traffic Division at (714) 245 8200.

Potential Criminal Charges and Penalties

• Felony Hit and Run (Vehicle Code 20001): Because the collision resulted in a fatality and the driver initially fled, they can be charged with felony hit and run.
  • Imprisonment: 2, 3, or 4 years in state prison.
  • Fines: Between $1,000 and $10,000.
  • Minimum Jail Time: Even if reduced to a misdemeanor, a hit and run involving death typically requires a minimum of 90 days in county jail.
• Vehicular Manslaughter (Penal Code 192(c)): The driver may also face manslaughter charges if their driving was negligent or unlawful.
  • Ordinary Negligence: Typically a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail.
  • Gross Negligence: A “wobbler” offense that can be charged as a felony with up to 6 years in state prison.
  • Hit and Run Enhancement: Fleeing the scene after a negligent act that causes death can add a consecutive 5-year enhancement to a state prison sentence. 

Administrative and Civil Consequences

• Driver’s License Sanctions: A conviction for felony hit and run or vehicular manslaughter will result in two points on the driver’s DMV record and potential revocation or suspension of driving privileges.
• Victim Restitution: The court may order the driver to pay restitution to the victim’s family for funeral costs and other financial losses.
• Civil Liability: The driver can be sued by the victim’s family for wrongful death, which could lead to significant monetary damages beyond criminal fines. 

The Santa Ana Police Department Collision Investigation Unit (CIU) is still investigating this case. Final charges will depend on factors such as the driver’s level of negligence and whether drugs or alcohol were involved. 

While specific annual statistics for fatal hit-and-run incidents in Orange County are not immediately available from public data sources for the exact three-year period of 2023-2026, data indicates such incidents are tragically frequent both in Orange County and across California. 

Frequency in Orange County

• In 2020 alone, there were 853 hit-and-run collisions involving injury or fatality in Orange County.
• Orange County consistently ranks highly for total traffic crashes, indicating a high volume of incidents where hit and runs can occur.
• Statewide data from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reveals that around 29% of all car crashes in California are hit-and-run incidents. 

This suggests that fatal hit-and-runs are a recurring issue in the region, rather than a rare occurrence.

Examples in the Past Three Years

News reports from the past three years provide several examples of fatal hit-and-run incidents that have occurred in the Orange County area:

• December 20, 2025 (Santa Ana): A pedestrian was fatally struck by two vehicles on Main Street. The driver of the first vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated, but the driver of the second, fatal vehicle fled and has not been located.
• May 3, 2025 (Stanton): A DUI suspect caused a fiery hit-and-run crash at the intersection of Magnolia and Pacific avenues, killing an innocent driver. The suspect attempted to flee but was later taken into custody.
• Various other incidents: The user’s original query mentions the January 9, 2026 incident in Santa Ana, highlighting another recent example in the area.