SPPD: Good Samaritan captures suspect in Sunday hit-and-run
November 06, 2013
By Paula Clarke
Santa Paula News
An alleged hit-and-run driver didn't get far when a Good Samaritan followed the suspect from the scene of a collision Sunday afternoon that injured three people.
According to Santa Paula Police Sgt. Jeremy Watson the collision occurred at about 4:25 p.m. November 3 at the intersection of East Harvard Boulevard and 10th Street.
Watson said a 1993 Ford Thunderbird driven by Jose Ramiro, 35, of Oxnard, was traveling westbound on Harvard Boulevard, "When he entered the left-turn pocket to go southbound on 10th Street."
Ramiro then "Made a left turn into the direct path of the oncoming vehicle," a Ford Econoline van, which smashed into the Thunderbird.
"Immediately following the accident," Watson said Ramiro exited the damaged Thunderbird and tried to remove his injured passenger.
When it appeared Ramiro's passenger was incapacitated, "He left the passenger on the street and walked away North on 10th Street."
Watson said when Ramiro entered the parking lot of Familia Diaz restaurant, "A Good Samaritan chased after the suspect and captured him," as Ramiro was exiting the parking lot onto Ojai Street.
"The Good Samaritan then walked the suspect back to the scene of the accident," where Watson said the unidentified man turned Ramiro over to police.
The driver of the van, Juana Perez, 42 of Santa Paula, received minor injures but her passenger, Lionso Diaz, 47, also a Santa Paula resident, as well as Ramiro's unidentified passenger were first treated on scene by Santa Paula Fire EMTs and ambulance paramedics before being transported by ambulance to Santa Paula Hospital.
The victims were complaining of pain but Watson said, "It doesn't appear there were serious injuries.... "
Ramiro was also injured and taken by a SPPD Officer: "After being medically cleared," Watson said Ramiro, an unlicensed driver, was arrested for suspicion of felony hit-and-run and, "transported to county jail."
