SANTA ANA, California — Someone was trying to get through an ordinary Sunday morning when a driver hit them and drove away.
It happened just before 7:30 a.m. on July 27, near Auto Mall Drive and Edinger Avenue. A black pickup truck towing a red trailer struck a pedestrian — and then kept going.
The victim was rushed to the hospital with major injuries.
The Driver Did Not Stop
Instead of staying at the scene, the driver fled.
Santa Ana police launched a search for the suspect and the distinctive vehicle — a black pickup truck pulling a red trailer — that witnesses had seen at the scene.
The combination made the truck traceable.
Weeks Later, Officers Found Him
Investigators eventually located the vehicle in Moreno Valley, roughly 60 miles from where the crash had happened.
A search warrant was obtained and served at the home of Rigoberto Martinez Villalpando, 43, of Moreno Valley.
He was taken into custody on August 13 — more than two weeks after the crash.
Investigation Still Open
The Santa Ana Police Department has not released the identity of the victim.
No additional details about the victim’s condition have been made public as the case remains under active investigation.
Villalpando now faces charges tied to the hit-and-run that left a person fighting through serious injuries — injuries caused by a driver who chose to leave rather than help.
Have you or someone you know been affected by a hit-and-run in your community? Share your thoughts in the comments below.