SANTA ROSA VALLEY, Calif. — Law enforcement authorities have arrested a 70-year-old Simi Valley resident following a detailed, multi-week investigation into a fatal hit-and-run collision that claimed the life of a Camarillo man earlier this summer, traffic enforcement officials announced.
Click here to read the full official press release from the California Highway Patrol regarding the Santa Rosa Valley fatal hit-and-run investigation.
The major fatal crash investigation was conducted jointly by investigators assigned to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Coastal Division Investigative Services Unit and the CHP Moorpark Area office.
Authorities identified the arrested suspect as 70-year-old Humberto Perez, a resident of Simi Valley.
Perez was taken into custody on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, and formally booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura on felony hit-and-run charges.
Late-Night Santa Rosa Road Collision and Initial Investigation
According to an official incident briefing released by the California Highway Patrol, the fatal collision occurred at approximately 10:50 p.m. on the evening of June 7.
Emergency medical personnel and CHP patrol officers responded to Santa Rosa Road near Gerry Road in the unincorporated community of Santa Rosa Valley following reports of a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle.
Upon arriving at the scene, emergency responders located the victim, identified as Steven Monzon, a resident of Camarillo. Monzon suffered catastrophic injuries in the impact and was pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel.
Investigating officers determined that an unidentified driver struck Monzon with a passenger vehicle while traveling along Santa Rosa Road. Following the collision, the driver failed to stop, render aid, check on the victim, or notify emergency dispatchers, instead fleeing the area at a high rate of speed.
Physical evidence recovered from the roadway, combined with traffic surveillance video and tips submitted by local residents, led specialized hit-and-run investigators to launch an intensive search across Ventura and Simi Valley.
Suspect Identification, Arrest, and Bail Proceedings
Over the following weeks, detectives from the CHP Coastal Division Investigative Services Unit worked closely with Moorpark Area investigators to trace vehicle fragments, review registration records, and analyze digital leads.
The comprehensive investigation ultimately pointed to Perez as the primary suspect operating the hit-and-run vehicle on the night of the crash.
On September 2, CHP investigators located Perez and placed him under arrest without incident. Perez was transported to the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility, where he was booked on felony charges:
- VC 20001(a): Felony Hit-and-Run Resulting in Death or Injury
Judicial records confirm that Perez remains incarcerated in county custody with bail set at $50,000 pending his initial court appearances in Ventura County Superior Court.
"This arrest reflects the dedication of our investigators and the valuable assistance from community members... Hit-and-run crashes have devastating consequences for victims and their families. We remain committed to identifying those responsible and holding them accountable," stated CHP Moorpark Area Lieutenant Randy O’Brien in an official public statement.
"We appreciate the public’s continued partnership and hope this arrest offers the Monzon family some measure of closure," Lieutenant O’Brien added.
Hit-and-Run Statutory Framework and Law Enforcement Contact
Under California state law, driver involvement in any collision resulting in physical injury or death mandates immediate stopping at the scene, rendering reasonable assistance to injured persons, and presenting identifying documentation to law enforcement. A conviction under California Vehicle Code Section 20001(a) carries severe criminal penalties, including state prison sentences, heavy financial fines, and mandatory driver's license revocations.
Law enforcement officials continue to ask members of the public who may possess additional details, physical evidence, or video recordings related to the June 7 collision to step forward.
Anyone with additional information regarding this case is urged to contact the CHP Ventura Communications Center at (805) 477-4174. Direct inquiries regarding Perez’s formal booking status or upcoming court dates can be directed to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. Official updates are accessible on the CHP Moorpark Official Facebook Release.