The SAPD arrested the hit and run driver who caused a fatal crash on June 26

During their investigation of this collision, Santa Ana Police Department’s Collision Investigation Unit was able to identify the driver of the suspect vehicle as Joel Giovanni Andalon. On Thursday, July 2, 2020 at approximately 12:15 PM, Andalon was taken into custody with assistance from detectives from our Career Criminal Unit, Homicide Section, and Major Enforcement Team. Andalon was booked into the Santa Ana Jail on charges of Gross Vehicular Manslaughter and Felony Hit and Run.

Traffic Investigators are releasing video of the crash in hopes that the driver of the white van (seen in the video) will contact them with additional information, as they are believed to have witnessed the collision.

Anyone with information about this collision is asked to contact Investigator Cpl. Carrillo at (714) 245-8208 or the Santa Ana Police Department’s Traffic Division at (714) 245-8200.

– ORIGINAL MESSAGE –

On Friday, June 26th, 2020, at approximately 9:46 am, the Santa Ana Police Department received a call of a traffic collision involving multiple vehicles in the area of 1st and Lacy. Officers responded to the area and located the collision involving two vehicles. Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) personnel responded and began to treat the injured parties. All three of the injured parties were transported to the hospital for further medical attention. One of the injured passengers, who was eight months pregnant, underwent emergency surgery. During the surgery, the fetus was pronounced deceased as a direct result of the collision.

The preliminary investigation has revealed that one of the vehicles was traveling east on 1st making a left turn onto Lacy. A second vehicle, traveling west on 1st at a high rate of speed, struck the vehicle making the left turn onto Lacy. The driver traveling west on 1st fled the scene on foot prior to the arrival of police. Investigators are still determining if alcohol played a role in the collision, but speed is believed to be a factor. The cause of the collision remains under investigation.

The Santa Ana Police Department’s Collision Investigation Unit (CIU) is handling the investigation. Anyone having information about this collision is asked to contact Investigator Cpl. Danny Carrillo at (714) 245-8208 or the Santa Ana Police Department’s Traffic Division at (714) 245-8200.