Criminal Charges Upgraded in Vehicle Pursuit Collision

Source: Santa Barbara County District Attorney

Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce E. Dudley announced that an amended complaint has been filed against Dinara Arevalo, 24, a resident of Lompoc, California. Arevalo was charged on October 4, 2018, by a complaint alleging one count of felony evading arrest causing bodily injury, in violation of Vehicle Code § 2800.3, and a special allegation of infliction of great bodily injury resulting in a comatose state, in violation of Penal Code § 12022.7(b).

The charges arose in connection with an October 1, 2018 traffic pursuit and collision that injured two occupants of another vehicle. The passenger who was in a coma subsequently died on October 11, 2018.

The amended complaint alleges felony violations of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, in violation of Penal Code § 192(c)(1), and felony evading an officer causing death, in violation of Vehicle Code § 2800.3. In addition, special allegations of infliction of great bodily injury, in violation of Penal Code § 12022.7(a) are alleged as to the surviving passenger.

Arevalo is scheduled to appear on October 18, 2018, at 8:30 a.m. in Dept. 1 of the Lompoc Superior Court.