Officers identify drunk driver who killed Nipomo woman

30-year-old Juan Ortiz Mendoza arrested and booked on multiple felony charges

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Investigators have identified the drunk driver who killed a 46-year-old Nipomo woman in a hit-and-run crash in Santa Maria on Saturday night. The driver, 30-year-old Juan Ortiz Mendoza, fled the scene immediately after the collision but was later identified, arrested and booked into jail on multiple felony charges including drunk driving and hit-and-run resulting in death.

Why it matters

This tragic incident highlights the ongoing issue of drunk driving and hit-and-run crashes, which continue to claim lives and devastate communities across California. The case also underscores the importance of holding impaired drivers accountable through the justice system.

The details

According to authorities, shortly before midnight on Saturday, Mendoza's vehicle crashed into 46-year-old Maria Juarez Moreno as she was walking across the intersection of Bunny Avenue and Blosser Road in Santa Maria. Emergency responders pronounced Moreno dead at the scene. Mendoza fled immediately after the collision, but police were later able to identify, arrest and book him into the Santa Barbara County North Jail on multiple felony charges. He remains in jail on $50,000 bail.

  • The incident occurred shortly before midnight on Saturday, February 22, 2026.
  • Mendoza was arrested and booked into jail following the crash.

The players

Juan Ortiz Mendoza

A 30-year-old man who was arrested and booked into jail on multiple felony charges, including drunk driving and hit-and-run resulting in death, for the crash that killed Maria Juarez Moreno.

Maria Juarez Moreno

A 46-year-old Nipomo woman who was killed in the hit-and-run crash while walking across an intersection in Santa Maria.

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What’s next

Mendoza will remain in jail on $50,000 bail as the case proceeds through the criminal justice system.

The takeaway

This tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder of the devastating consequences of drunk driving and the urgent need for continued efforts to combat impaired driving and hold offenders accountable in order to protect innocent lives.