Two pedestrians were killed in an alleged DUI hit-and-run on Sunday evening in West Goleta, with the victims being identified as Mary Jane Corral and Adolfo Corral, both 43.
A suspect is now in custody after an hourslong manhunt, with law enforcement tracking him down after he fled the scene at the corner of Cathedral Oaks Road and Windsor Drive.
The suspect has been identified as Eric Mauricio Ramirez Aguilar of Goleta.
He has been booked into Santa Barbara County Jail with a bail of $100,000, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies initially searched the incident area, including two K9 units responding. At 8:30 p.m., Mr. Aguilar was located as a passenger in a vehicle in Carpinteria. The driver was determined to not be involved with the hit-and-run and released at the scene.
Mr. Aguilar faces the following charges:
- 2 counts of Gross Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated (felony)
- 1 count of DUI Causing Injury (felony)
- 1 count of Hit and Run Causing Death/Injury (felony)
- 1 count of Flee the Scene of a Crime After Commission of Vehicular Manslaughter (felony)
- 1 count of Enhancement for Bodily Injury or Death of More Than One Victim While DUI (felony)
- 1 count of DUI Alcohol (misdemeanor)
Santa Barbara County Fire Department spokesman Capt. Daniel Bertucelli said fire crews responded to reports of a vehicle that allegedly struck two pedestrians at Cathedral Oaks Road and Windsor Drive around 5:20 p.m. Sunday evening.
Capt. Bertucelli said one pedestrian died at the scene and paramedics transported the second to an area hospital by ambulance. Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Raquel Zick confirmed the second pedestrian died of their injuries by late Sunday.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to aid the Corrals four children, identified as Azalea (20), Dahlia (17), Dominic (14) and Rose (10) — with Azalea having set up the account.
As of 3:30 p.m., nearly $63,000 of the $100,000 goal had been achieved, with more than 810 people having donated.
In the messages on the page, Azalea has invited family, friends and the community to a memorial on Monday night at 5 p.m. on Cathedral Oaks Road at the corner of Winchester and Gerard Street.
Mr. Corral was the Equity, Diversity, and Cultural Competency Coordinator at Santa Barbara City College.
The school’s president, Dr. Utpal Goswami, issued a statement about the sudden loss.
“It is with a heavy heart that I must share the news that has begun to be shared in the community. Yesterday evening, a pedestrian hit and run in Goleta occurred. We are devastated to learn this morning that it involved our own Adolfo Corral and his wife, Mary Jane. Tragically, they did not survive.
“This is understandably devastating for their family and loved ones and for our SBCC family, who will be profoundly grieving their loss.
“We are working with Human Resources to provide support on campus today for Faculty, Staff, and Students. There will be more information on that as it develops.
“For now, I am deeply sorry for the pain Adolfo and Mary Jane’s loss will hold for us. “
The mood at Santa Barbara City College was noticeably glum on Monday as news of Mr. Corral’s passing passed through campus.
Students and faculty embraced and shared stories about their experiences with the late SBCC Food Pantry director.
“I don’t even want to be here today, but I know I need to provide the students with the resources they need,” said Secel Montgomery as he distributed food to students at the pantry located next to East Campus Classroom 6.
“He (Mr. Corral) was a good guy, and he did a lot for the college community. If it wasn’t for him a lot of us wouldn’t be able to do our service work, because students wouldn’t know about it. He did a lot, making sure that things were well known to the students as well as the community. His passing is horrible, it’s terrible.”
Another student worker said this was Mr. Corral’s second semester working with the pantry.
Mr. Corral became Coordinator for Equity, Diversity and Cultural Competency in August 2019. He took the STEM Transfer Program Coordinator at SBCC in November 2015.
This is a developing story, please check back for updates.
Paul Gonzalez contributed to this report.
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