The SAPD arrested a man suspected in a fatal hit and run accident

SANTA ANA, CA (October 21, 2024) – Santa Ana Police Detectives have arrested Eric Serafin Bahena, a 42-year-old man, for a fatal hit-and-run traffic collision.

On Sunday, October 20, 2024, at approximately 12:30 a.m., the Santa Ana Police Department received a call regarding a traffic collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian in the area of Bristol Street and Park Lane.

Officers, along with Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), responded to the scene and located a man in the roadway with significant injuries. Despite life-saving measures, OCFA pronounced the pedestrian, Ralph Marin (31) of Santa Ana, deceased at the scene.

Update:

After an extensive investigation, detectives from the Collision Investigations Unit identified the suspect as Eric Serafin Bahena (42) of Santa Ana.

On Sunday, October 20, 2024, Santa Ana Police personnel conducted surveillance at two locations in the City of Santa Ana to locate Eric and the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run collision.

As a result, Eric was detained after leaving a residence in the 1800 block of W. Glenwood Place, and the vehicle was located in the 1600 block of W. 3rd Street.

Bahena was subsequently arrested and booked at the Santa Ana Jail for CVC 20001(a) – Felony Hit-and-Run, and the vehicle was impounded as evidence.