The Eureka Police Department has arrested a 53-year-old suspect in a fatal hit-and-run incident that took place Saturday morning, with a pedestrian hit while walking in a crosswalk at Fifth and K streets near Old Town.

According to a news release, the department received a call that a vehicle matching the description of the one that left the scene of the crash was located unoccupied in a McKinleyville parking lot. The California Highway Patrol was dispatched to secure the scene until EPD arrived to begin the investigation.

“As detectives processed the vehicle, they were contacted by the vehicle’s owner,” the release states. “An interview was conducted with the owner, Jose Guzman Jimenez, 53 years old from Eureka, which revealed he was the driver of the vehicle at the time of the collision.”

The release states Guzman was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County jail on suspicion of felony hit and run involving a death.

“This is still an ongoing investigation and we are asking for any witnesses to the collision to contact the Eureka Police Department,” the release states.


Read the EPD releases below:

On March 4, 2023, at approximately 3:15 p.m., EPD’s Communication Center received a call from a citizen in McKinleyville stating they had located the suspect vehicle. The vehicle was parked in an open parking lot and was unoccupied at the time of the call. EPD requested the assistance of the California Highway Patrol who responded to the scene to secure the vehicle. An EPD officer and two detectives were dispatched to the location and took over the investigation. Upon their arrival they confirmed this was the vehicle involved in the collision. As detectives processed the vehicle, they were contacted by the vehicle’s owner. An interview was conducted with the owner, Jose Guzman Jimenez, 53 years old from Eureka, which revealed he was the driver of the vehicle at the time of the collision. Jose Guzman was placed under arrest and transported and booked at the Humboldt County Jail for a violation of felony hit and run involving a death. This is still an ongoing investigation and we are asking for any witnesses to the collision to contact the Eureka Police Department.

The Eureka Police Department would like to thank the observant citizen who located the vehicle and the California Highway Patrol for their assistance with this investigation.

Original Press Release:

On March 4, 2023, at approximately 7:00 a.m., the Eureka Police Department’s Communication Center received a report of a subject lying in the roadway near 5th and K Streets, who was visibly injured and had possibly been struck by a vehicle.

The reporting party stated there were no vehicles on scene. Eureka Police Officers were dispatched to the scene along with Humboldt Bay Fire and City Ambulance. The first arriving officers located vehicle debris in the roadway, confirming that a vehicle versus pedestrian traffic collision had occurred and confirmed there were no involved vehicles still on scene. The pedestrian suffered major injuries and was immediately transported by City Ambulance to St. Joseph Hospital where they have succumbed to their injuries.

The investigation has revealed that the pedestrian was traveling south across 5th Street, in the crosswalk, and was struck by the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle immediately fled, traveling east on 5th Street, without rendering any aid to the pedestrian. Evidence at the scene, both physical and video, has identified the suspect vehicle as a white Lincoln MKX, mid-size SUV, with a probable model year of 2011-2015. The vehicle has a sun or moon roof that makes the vehicle’s roof appear black and will have driver’s side front end damage.

There will be no additional information released at this time as this is an active criminal investigation.

Anyone who may have witnessed this collision or has information on the involved vehicle or driver is asked to please contact the Eureka Police Department Communications Center at 707-441-4044 or email the Investigating Officer, Jeremy Sollom, at [email protected] or our Criminal Investigations Section Detective Sergeant, Wayne Rabang, [email protected].