Edhat Staff
By edhat staff
UC Santa Barbara Chancellor Henry T. Yang is accused of being involved in a hit-and-run of a skateboarder on campus last month.
The incident was first reported two weeks ago by Tyler Hayden at The Independent detailing attempts to get information from law enforcement and the university only to be stonewalled. An anonymous tip reported a hit-and-run on Channel Islands Road, near the chancellor’s private waterfront home, on May 16 at 2:30 p.m. and stated the UCSB Police Department is “actively withholding” this from the public.
UCSB Police stated the investigation was transferred to California Highway Patrol (CHP) due to a conflict of interest, Hayden reported. UCSB Public Affairs decided not to make much of a comment and CHP said the investigation was pending.
This week, the Los Angeles Times published its story on the alleged incident with more detailed information involving Chancellor Yang.
The skateboarder stated he was hit by the front of a car and rolled across the hood, injuring his right hip and left foot. He told officers he fell to the ground, stood up, and got a clear look at the driver and female passenger. The passenger made hand motions toward the student, but the car’s occupants made no effort to see if he was hurt, then left the scene.
A CHP report names Yang as a person of interest based on the skateboarder’s positive identification of him as the driver, but could not substantiate the allegations due to lack of independent witnesses, physical evidence on the car, video surveillance and some inconsistencies in statements by the student.
UCSB Public Affairs at first opted not to comment and only provided a statement after The Times indicated they had received a full copy of the CHP report.
“This was not a hit-and-run,” the university said in a statement. “The Chancellor and his wife were surprised to learn of the allegations and they have always maintained that their vehicle did not collide with anyone. … The University and the Chancellor took the allegations of this skateboarder seriously.”
The CHP report also states Yang’s lawyer had advised Yang not to be interviewed due to potential charges which could result from the nature of this investigation. When Yang’s wife, Dilling, was informed of being positively identified as the passenger in the vehicle by the victim, she stated she did not wish to answer any more questions.
CHP investigators conctacted the Santa Barbara County district attorney’s office and decided they did not have probable cause for a search warrant, given that the alleged victim’s injuries were minor, and is not recommending any charges since it was “unable to substantiate a crime that was committed by any university staff,” reports The Times.
The full CHP report can be viewed here and the entire Los Angeles Times article is available here.
Tyler is again more interested in squeezing the juice than the facts. Not surprise he’s ignored.
yeah awful journalists holding this big institutions and elites accountable, what jerks /s
Well let’s hope the truth comes out. I think there’s reason to believe an investigation by the media is warranted. What’s wrong with that??
That’s how we get the cats busy with their shadows or tails. Better things to worry anywhere in this country than chasing sensational stories? The facts are unknown but are dead in the eyes of law, but not in the food plate of the news mafia.
The story about this scammer is apparently much more interesting than a losing president managing an attack on the seat of government and contriving a scheme to pass fake electors to the Vice President. But hey – the GOP hates academia and wants everyone’s kid to go to trade school – and not have sex unless they aren’t married.
GT: We are both essentially saying the same thing (LOL).
No evidence and inconsistent stories by the skateboarder. That appears to not matter to the media.
The ‘inconsistencies’ were little more than the student not being sure which of the Yangs’ two luxury vehicles was involved.
Hardly discrediting.
History repeating itself:
Would not be a first for a UCSB Chancellor:
Jun 30, 1988….UC Santa Barbara Chancellor Barbara Uehling averted trial on a drunk-driving charge by pleading no contest to a reduced charge of reckless driving.
But this story with Yang takes the cake…..
“This was not a hit-and-run,” the university said in a statement. “The Chancellor and his wife were surprised to learn of the allegations and they have always maintained that their vehicle did not collide with anyone. … The University and the Chancellor took the allegations of this skateboarder seriously.”
I have no idea if Yang was sober or not when he allegedly hit the skateboarder, but every last single guilty drunk who hits someone and runs d-e-n-i-e-s it. Mrs. Yang has every right to not say anything, but certainly it does not appear that she denied being at the scene or involved in any way. Hopefully, Chancellor Yang will “come clean” and admit his guilt if in fact he did run over the skateboarder. Otherwise, a cloud will hang over him forever.
Would not be a first for a UCSB chancellor:
Jun 30, 1988….UC Santa Barbara Chancellor Barbara Uehling averted trial on a drunk-driving charge by pleading no contest to a reduced charge of reckless driving.
337pm, and yet, the skateboarder was able to identify BOTH the chancellor and his wife in photo lineups. UCSB police stonewalled the media to protect the chancellor. “Dust investigation” is not an exact science that I’ve heard of. The PD also did this dust investigation at night using a flashlight. More funny things, eh?
Wasn’t this unofficial “dust” test conducted a good time after the hit?
The real issue here is why the heck is an 81 year old still in this position? We need mandatory retirement at 70 for every major public role, including Congress and SCOTUS. These ancient people may be able to offer solid advice, but they are clueless in today’s world and are responsible for so much of our world’s issues. If they had any dignity or self awareness, they’d retire. Instead, we’re ruled by ancient people who are utterly clueless in today’s world.
Amen!!! It is crazy we force retirement on folks this age in 99% of industries, yet we also trust the same age people to govern THE ENTIRE COUNTRY?
If it weren’t Yang, this probably would be presented as a skateboarder hitting a car. Was the car driving on the sidewalk or bike lane?
I’ve had a few encounters with bikes and skateboarders where they hit or almost ran into me while they did things on the street that they shouldn’t be, like going against traffic or running stop signs. When they hit my car, I was left alone to take care of the damage and no one reported on it in the LA Times and Indie.
No one hurt, no damage to the car. But the alleged driver of the car makes this story “newsworthy” beyond the conclusion of the investigation.
Chancellor Yang makes $579,750 per year, for a PUBLIC institution.
Did the Yangs both publicly state they were not driving? It is odd the wife stopped talking and Yang’s lawyer said he wasn’t going to talk for fear of charges. Why not just say they weren’t there at that time and were not driving?