UPDATE: The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday additional charges against the woman arrested after a pursuit that ended in a crash on Highway 101 near Gaviota Oct. 1.
The DA’s office says Dinara Arevalo, 24, now faces felony charges of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and evading an officer causing death, along with the previous charges filed against her. The latest charges come after officials say one of the people in the vehicle she hit died last week as a result of his injuries.
A special allegation of inflicting great bodily injury was also filed against Arevalo in connection with the passenger who survived the crash, officials said.
Arevalo is due back in court Oct. 18
ORIGINAL STORY: One of the people injured in a crash on Highway 101 near Gaviota on Oct. 1 has died, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Friday.
Michael D. Garcia, 58, was hurt when the pickup in which he was a passenger was struck by another vehicle that was being pursued by law enforcement.
Authorities say Dinara Arevalo, 24, lost control of her car and struck the pickup, causing it to go off the road and roll over the nearby railroad tracks. Garcia and the pickup driver had to be extricated from their vehicle, according to first responders. Arevalo’s car also flipped, but she reportedly suffered only minor injuries.
Arevalo is currently charged with evading an officer causing injury with a special allegation for causing great bodily injury. The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office says it is evaluating whether additional charges will be filed as a result of Garcia’s death.
Arevalo has pleaded not guilty to the current charges. She is due back in court on Oct. 16 and is currently being held in the Santa Barbara County Jail with bail set at $150,000.
Previous coverage:
Chase leads to crash on Highway 101 near Gaviota
