A suspect has been captured in connection with a tragic hit-and-run incident that resulted in the death of a 76-year-old Vallejo resident last October.
Vallejo Police Department records show that on October 17, 2023, at approximately 2:27 P.M., an officer tried to pull over a red Ford Fusion for reckless driving.
Allegedly, Jovon Woodard, 22, failed to comply, sparking a high-speed pursuit that ended disastrously when Woodard reportedly lost control, colliding with several parked cars and fatally injuring the unnamed senior on Carolina Street.
These details were shared by the Vallejo Police Department in a post dated February 1.
According to Vallejo Police, the pursuit was brief yet perilous, covering just over two city blocks before coming to an abrupt halt. Following the crash, Woodard purportedly fled the scene on foot, leaving behind a scene of destruction and a firearm in his vehicle.
Despite swift action by emergency services, the elderly victim, caught tragically amidst the parked cars, was rushed to a local hospital but unfortunately succumbed to the injuries.
Ongoing investigations by the Vallejo Police Department Detective Division led to the identification of Woodard as the prime suspect. The case was forwarded to the Solano County District Attorney’s Office, which issued an arrest warrant for the 22-year-old.
On January 30, the U.S. Marshals Service, in collaboration with the Vallejo Police Department Patrol Division, detained Woodard without incident on the 400 block of Tennessee Street.
Currently held at the Solano County Jail awaiting trial, Woodard’s arrest provides some measure of closure to the community following the tragic incident.
The investigation remains active, and authorities urge individuals with additional information to step forward and assist in the inquiry.
Detectives Daniel Callison and Wesley Pittman, overseeing the case, can be reached with any relevant information that may shed light on the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision.
For media inquiries, the Vallejo Police Department has referred journalists to contact Sgt. Rashad Hollis, the Public Information Officer, via email at VallejoPolicePIO@cityofvallejo.net or by phone at (707) 567-4233.
