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The car involved in several accidents is seen sitting in the front yard of a home at the intersection of Cameron Street and West Santa Barbara Street. |
Three arrested for pedestrian hit-and-run, second hit-and-run
April 25, 2012
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Police Department
Two women and man were arrested late Friday afternoon following a hit-and-run after a woman was hit by a vehicle that not only left the scene of the first collision, but was then involved in a second hit-and-run. According to Santa Paula Police Sgt. Cody Madison, the April 20 incident was reported at about 4:10 p.m. and officers responded to the intersection of West Main and Cameron streets where a woman was reportedly hit by a vehicle, which fled the scene.
“While en route,” Madison said, “officers were informed a second traffic collision had occurred at the intersection of Cameron Street and West Santa Barbara Street,” south of where the original collision had occurred. The suspect’s vehicle crashed into the front yard and driveway of 593 W. Santa Barbara Street.
“Upon arrival it looked like they hit the house, however,” said Madison, “they collided with one car in the driveway, which pushed that car into another.” He stated witnesses said the same vehicle was possibly involved, and two suspects fled the scene on foot following the second collision.
When officers arrived on scene, “Witnesses reported the two subjects who fled were now attempting to gain entry in a home in the 100 block of Salas Street.” Officers located the suspects, Miguel Morales, 39, of Moorpark, and Cheyenne Murphy, 18, also of Moorpark, and both were taken into custody.
Madison said, “Morales attempted to enter a home that was owned by his mother, however the home was leased to a tenant who didn’t know who he was. The tenant was concerned for her well-being and didn’t let them in,” and then the police - including Madison - arrived on scene.
Morales was found to be intoxicated. He was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence and felony hit-and-run.
Murphy was also arrested for suspicion of felony hit-and-run. Madison said the latter charge was due to assisting Morales in leaving the scene where the woman was struck by the vehicle.
The victim of the hit-and-run was treated on scene by Santa Paula Fire EMTs and ambulance paramedics and then transported to the Santa Paula Emergency Room.
A search of the vehicle was conducted and an unloaded pistol was found on the driver’s floorboard. “There were two additional subjects found at the second accident scene,” and one subject, Denise Mejia, 41, of Camarillo, “attempted to claim she was the driver of the vehicle. This was found to be false due to independent eye witnesses who observed Morales driving the vehicle.”
The other subject was arrested, but later released after investigation. Morales, Murphy and Mejia were transported to Ventura County Main Jail. Morales was charged with suspicion of felony hit-and-run with injuries, felony DUI with injuries, and being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun. Murphy, due to assisting Morales leave the scene, was charged with suspicion of felony hit-and-run with injuries, and Mejia was charged with suspicion of providing false information to a police officer.
Madison said the unidentified woman hit by the vehicle has already been released from the hospital and “is doing good.”
