MEDIA UPDATE
The Santa Maria Police Department is providing an update to the earlier hit-and-run traffic collision investigation that occurred on December 27, 2025, in the 600 block of Black Road.
Later that morning, Santa Maria Police Department officers made contact with the subject involved in the collision. The vehicle believed to be involved was located, and 32-year-old Magdaleno Valentin-Mozqueda was taken into custody and booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail for a violation of California Vehicle Code 20001(b)(2). The investigation remains ongoing.
The deceased is believed to be an adult male in his 50s. Positive identification is pending, and next-of-kin notifications are ongoing.
Anyone with any additional information related to this incident is asked to contact Officer Jensen at extension 1233 or SMPD Dispatch at extension 2277. Further updates will be released as information becomes available.
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Santa Maria, Calif. – The Santa Maria Police Department, along with medical personnel, responded to the 600 block of Black Road just after midnight on December 27, 2025, following a report of a possible person in the roadway.
Upon arrival, officers located a deceased male in the northbound lane of Black Road. Evidence at the scene indicated the individual had been struck by a vehicle. The involved vehicle was not located, and the incident is currently being investigated as a hit-and-run traffic collision.
Investigators are currently looking for a white sedan with major front-end and windshield damage believed to be involved in this collision. Anyone who locates a vehicle matching this description is asked to immediately contact SMPD Dispatch at extension 2277.
The deceased is described as an adult male believed to be in his 50s. At this time, officers are still working to positively identify the individual, and notification of next of kin is pending.
The Santa Maria Police Department is asking anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has information related to this incident to contact Officer Jensen at ext. 1233 or SMPD Dispatch at ext. 2277. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional information will be released as it becomes available.
