On January 30, 2015, a street racing accident claimed the life of a Santa Maria teen, Breanna Rodriguez. According to NOOZHAWK, Rodriguez was racing another vehicle and lost control or her vehicle and crashed into a utility pole on Donovan Road near Suey Crossing. Allegedly Rodriguez had 3 passengers, which emergency personnel had to use the “jaws of life” to extricate from the mangled vehicle. Rodriguez was air lifted to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries.

Santa Maria police said the 17-old-boy who was driving the second vehicle briefly stopped after the accident, and then fled the scene prior to the arrival of police; he was arrested at 7:45 p.m. the next night. “Even though the two vehicles did not collide with each other, the law requires all involved parties to remain at the scene,” stated Sargent Mark Streker.

Whether alcohol or drugs were a factor is still under investigation.