Woman killed in hit-and-run on Central Coast highway
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A woman died Sunday night after she was struck by a vehicle that left the scene on Highway 166 between Santa Maria and Guadalupe.
At approximately 8 p.m., emergency personnel were dispatched to the incident on West Main Street (Highway 166) near Bonita School Road, California Highway Patrol Officer Maria Barriga said Monday afternoon.
The preliminary investigation indicates the adult female pedestrian was traveling between Santa Maria and Guadalupe when she was struck by an unknown vehicle, Barriga said.
The driver of the vehicle fled the scene prior to the arrival of emergency personnel.
The pedestrian sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash, Barriga said.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Bureau identified the pedestrian as 22-year-old Aida Negahdar from Georgia.
CHP officers are actively working to identify the vehicle and driver involved, Barriga added.
Investigators have asked for the public’s assistance, including any witnesses, dashcam footage or surveillance video from the area around the time of the incident.
“Our thoughts are with the victim’s family during this incredibly difficult time. We urge all drivers to take responsibility and remain on scene after a crash.” said CHP Lt. Joseph Rodriguez, commander of the Santa Maria area office.
Drivers are reminded to remain vigilant, especially during nighttime hours when visibility is reduced, and to remain alert for pedestrians, particularly in areas with limited lighting.
Anyone with information about a hit-and-run crash can call 911 immediately.
Timely information can be critical in identifying suspects and assisting victims, Barriga added.
To contact the CHP’s Santa Maria area office to provide information about Sunday night’s incident, call 805-608-6310.
How many pedestrians have been hit this year?
At least eight other pedestrians have been hit by vehicles on the Central Coast this year — half of them fatalities.
- On Jan. 8, two women were hospitalized with major but non-life threatening injuries after a hit-and-run in San Luis Obispo.
- On Jan. 17, Nipomo resident Maria Juarez Moreno, 46, was killed in a hit-and-run crash in Santa Maria.
- On Feb. 24, a 56-year-old man was in critical condition after being struck by a car and severely injured in San Luis Obispo.
- The next day, on Feb. 25, 18-year-old San Luis Obispo resident Brooklyn Gutierrez was hit and killed by an animal control truck in SLO.
- On March 13, a 1-year-old child died and the mother pushing the toddler in a stroller was critically injured after being struck by a car while trying to cross the street in Santa Maria.
- On April 1, a pedestrian was hit and injured by a truck outside the Food 4 Less in Paso Robles.
- On April 16, An 88-year-old Arroyo Grande man was hit and killed by a car in a parking lot in Pismo Beach.
This story was originally published May 5, 2026 at 12:06 PM with the headline "Woman killed in hit-and-run on Central Coast highway."
