41-Year-Old Ricardo Alfaro Arrested in Hit-and-Run Crash on Highway 101 [Santa Maria, CA]

Santa Maria, CA (April 30, 2025) – Ricardo Alfaro, 41, of San Luis Obispo, was arrested in a hit-and-run crash on Highway 101 Thursday morning.

The collision between a pedestrian and a vehicle happened before 9:15 a.m. on the northbound on-ramp to Highway 101 at Broadway.

Responding officers located a pedestrian with major injuries, who was then rushed to Marian Regional Medical Center. Police said the victim is expected to recover.

Officers said that the collision was captured on a vehicle dash camera, which assisted them in identifying the suspect vehicle.

The authorities located the vehicle 12 hours later near the intersection of Broadway and Cook Street.

Officers then arrested the suspect driver Ricardo Alfaro and booked him into the Santa Barbara County Jail for suspicion of felony hit-and-run causing injury.

According to the investigators, Alfaro was determined to be at fault for the collision, though, they are still investigating if alcohol or drugs were contributing factors.

Anyone with details about this incident can call Officer Nickolas Barton at 80.928.3781, extension1358.

Focus on the Road

Millions of people take to the roads for work, school, errands, or leisure. While many of these trips are uneventful, accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. Traffic accidents can change lives in an instant, causing physical injuries, emotional trauma, and financial hardship.

Wearing your seatbelt is the simplest and most effective way to protect yourself in an accident. It can reduce the risk of serious injury or death by up to 50%.

Similarly, texting, talking on the phone, eating, or doing anything else that takes your eyes off the road for even a second can have disastrous consequences. Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.

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Personal Injury Claims After a Traffic Collision: What You Need to Know

When involved in an injury collision, filing a personal injury claim is mostly necessary to recover damages. This legal process allows the victims to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other expenses caused by the traffic collision. However, the process is often complex, and understanding how it works is crucial for anyone pursuing a claim.

The first step in a personal injury claim is to determine liability. In most cases, the driver responsible for the traffic accident, either due to negligence, distracted driving, speeding, or other factors, will be held accountable. Establishing fault is key to securing compensation. Gathering pieces of evidence such as police reports, traffic camera footage, witness statements, and medical records can strongly prove who was at fault.

Once liability is established, the injured party can then seek compensation for various types of damages. Medical expenses, which include hospital bills, rehabilitation costs, prescription medications, and any long-term care needs, will be a significant part of the claim. 

Additionally, if the traffic collision resulted in lost wages or has impacted the victim’s ability to work, these financial losses can also be added to the claim.

Pain and suffering, which is a more subjective form of compensation, is one of the most debated aspects of a personal injury claim. Courts and insurance companies assess this based on how severely the victim was injured and the accident’s impact on the victim’s life, including physical and emotional distress.

Do not forget about the statute of limitations, which dictates the time frame within which a claim must be filed. Failing to file within this period may result in the loss of the right to pursue compensation.

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Call Our Legal Experts

If you’re injured in a traffic collision, a personal injury claim can help you recover damages. Seek legal counsel from Sweet Lawyers to ensure your rights are protected and that you have the best chance of receiving fair compensation.

Call us today at (800) 674-7852.

In Bakersfield, 18-year-old Abram Perez tragically lost his life after a suspected DUI on Highway 58.