Woman accused of deadly Capitola hit-and-run pleads not guilty

Accident – death – Obituary News : Woman Arrested for Fatal Hit-and-Run in Capitola Pleads Not Guilty

Capitola, California – After an intensive two-week investigation, Capitola Police have arrested Aurora Lopez, a 58-year-old resident of Soquel, in connection with a hit-and-run incident that resulted in the death of Debra Towne, a 70-year-old woman from Capitola. The arrest took place on the same street where the tragic incident occurred.

Adrienne West, the daughter of the victim, expressed her relief upon hearing the news of the arrest. She stated, “Knowing that she’s in jail tonight, maybe I’ll get to sleep tonight.” West’s mother was struck and killed on November 18th at the intersection of Crossroads Loop and Bay Avenue. The arrest came as a result of a joint effort by Capitola Police and new technology installed in certain areas of Santa Cruz County.

Capitola Police Chief, Dan Erin, provided details about the arrest. He said, “We stopped the suspect vehicle, actually on Bay Avenue, and made an arrest without any further incident. It went very smooth from there.” Lopez is now facing charges of vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run causing death.

The use of automated license plate reader technology played a crucial role in apprehending the suspect. Erin explained, “With the assistance of automated license plate reader technology in South County, we were able to narrow down the search and get a lead to help us locate the suspect vehicle.”

The street where the incident occurred has been a subject of concern in the community for several years. Despite her grief over the loss of her mother, West expressed her determination to advocate for safer streets. She said, “I’m going to continue to go to the city hall meetings and I will continue to help the people that need it down there, especially seniors and kids going to and from school.”

Lopez appeared in court on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges of vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run. She will return to court on December 18th for further proceedings. The bail for Lopez has been set at one hundred thousand dollars.

In memory of Debra Towne, a vigil will be held on Saturday at 3 p.m. Friends, family, and community members will gather at 715 Capitola Avenue before proceeding on a walk to honor her life.

This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of road safety and the need for measures to protect pedestrians. The community hopes that justice will be served through the legal system, bringing closure to the grieving family and promoting a safer environment for all..