UPDATE: Salinas Police arrest second suspect in fatal hit and run
UPDATE: 8/25/2017 10:59 a.m. A 40-year-old Salinas man has been arrested for being an accessory to a fatal hit and run accident in Salinas.
According to the Salinas Police Department, Marco Soto is the boyfriend of 25-year-old Julia Ryan, the woman who ran over Michele Litghtcap on West Blanco Road in May.
25-year-old Julia Ryan pictured below
Soto had reported that his car was stolen the night of the fatal hit and run however detectives said he knew it was Ryan who was driving. After a two and a half month investigation Salinas Police arrested Ryan on several charges including manslaughter and felony hit and run.
“Soto is an owner of MD towing at 1072 Industrial Street in Salinas. On August 24, Salinas PD, Salinas Code Enforcement, Salinas Fire, and Serco parking company conducted a business inspection at MD Towing unrelated to the collision. During the inspection, Salinas detectives contacted Soto at the business,” said Sgt. Gerard Ross.
On August 24, Soto was arrested and booked for being an accessory to a felony, filing false report, violation of probation and allowing an unlicensed driver to drive.
After receiving several citizen complaints, Salinas Code Enforcement conducted a business inspection of Soto’s company. 11 citations were written for illegally parked cars and eight cars were towed. A .22 cal. rifle was found in one of the cars.
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After a two and a half month investigation, a 25-year-old woman has been arrested for a fatal hit and run in Salinas.
The accident occurred May 29, on West Blanco Road. 44-year-old Michele Lightcap was walking on the south sidewalk when a red 2003 Chevy Silverado pickup struck and killed her.
Victim 44-year-old Michele Lightcap pictured below
A couple hours after the accident the suspects vehicle had been reported stolen. Shortly after 3 a.m. officers said the California Highway Patrol spotted a vehicle that matched the description near U.S. 101 and Madeira Avenue. With evidence at the scene, officers were able to confirm that the pickup in the hit and run matched the stolen vehicle.
Two and a half months later, Salinas detectives were able to gather enough evidence to prove that 25-year-old Julia Ryan had been driving the truck at the time of the crash.
Ryan was arrested Tuesday. Officers found her in possession of heroin, methamphetamines, and drug paraphernalia. Ryan also had several outstanding warrants including a warrant for failing to appear on an arrest for driving under the influence of drugs. Investigators found Ryan is an acquaintance of the truck owner.
Ryan was booked into the Monterey County Jail for Vehicular Manslaughter, Vehicular Manslaughter and fleeing the scene, hit and run, causing death, failure to report hit and run with death, driving on a suspended license, possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamines, possession of paraphernalia, and multiple outstanding arrest warrants.
