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OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT
NEWS RELEASE
| INCIDENT: | Fatal Hit-and-Run Arrest |
| DATE/TIME: | July 22, 2018 / 9:38 p.m. |
| LOCATION: | 1900 block of East Pleasant Valley Rd. Oxnard |
| VICTIM(S): | Name withheld pending notification to next-of-kin |
| SUSPECT(S): | Francisco Javier Garcia 10/7/68 |
| SUSPECT VEHICLE(S): | 2005 Ford Expedition |
| PREPARED BY: | Tim Kelley, Sergeant |
| CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO: | Officer Mike Wood (805)385-7750
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DETAILS:
On July 22, 2018, at approximately 9:38 p.m., officers from the Oxnard Police Department responded to an injury accident on East Pleasant Valley Road. just east of Syracuse Drive. When officers arrived they located two females suffering serious injuries. One of the females, a 51-year-old Oxnard resident, was pronounced dead at the scene. The second female, a 23-year-old Oxnard resident, was transported to a local hospital and is listed in stable condition.
Based upon the initial investigation, officers determined that a white 2000 Cadillac Escalade was traveling eastbound on Pleasant Valley Road. For reasons that are unknown, the vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. The vehicle entered back onto the roadway and came to rest partially blocking the #2 lane. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene leaving behind an injured passenger. The passenger sustained minor injuries, was transported to a local hospital, interviewed by officers and, later released. Officers have yet to identify the driver of the Escalade.
Shortly after the collision, the female victims and a male subject were traveling eastbound on Pleasant Valley Road in a white 2018 Jeep Latitude. The vehicle stopped in the #1 lane with its emergency flashers to assist at the accident scene. As they were approaching the Cadillac, a black 2005 Ford Expedition traveling eastbound on Pleasant Valley Road, struck both the Jeep and Cadillac as well as the two females. The driver of the Expedition exited the vehicle and fled the area on foot.
Shortly after the collision, the Oxnard Police Department 9-1-1 dispatchers received a call of a suspicious subject on the roof of a residence in the 2000 block of Walden Street. Officers responded and located Francisco Javier Garcia, a 49-year-old Oxnard resident, on the roof suffering from a head injury. Oxnard Fire Department personnel responded and were able to safely remove Garcia from the roof. Garcia was transported to a local area hospital. Officers were able to determine Garcia was the driver of the Expedition and was under the influence of alcohol during the time of the fatal collision. Garcia was arrested for felony hit-and-run, driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, and gross vehicular manslaughter.
Garcia was treated for his injuries and booked into the Ventura County Jail. Garcia’s bail is set at $500,000.
Anyone who witnessed or has information regarding the collision is asked to contact Officer Mike Wood from the Oxnard Police Department (805)385-7750 or via email at Mike.wood@oxnardpd.org .
DATE / TIME PREPARED: July 23, 2018 / 7:30 a.m.