Man surrenders in Highway 101 fatal hit-and-run crash in Laytonville

The man is suspected of walking away from the weekend crash before officers arrived.|
ROBERT DIGITALE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

A 33-year-old Los Angeles County man surrendered Tuesday to California Highway Patrol officers as a suspect in a fatal hit-and-run crash Sunday in Laytonville.

Bonifacio Ramirez Gomez, of Lawndale, turned himself in about noon at the CHP office in Ukiah, according to a press release from the CHP Garberville office. Gomez was booked into the Mendocino County Jail on charges of vehicular manslaughter and felony hit and run.

His bail was set at $50,000.

Gomez is accusing of driving a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac that crossed into oncoming traffic on Highway 101 about 12:30 Sunday and struck a 1965 Ford Falcon in which Lorna Ballard was a passenger. Ballard, 53, of Concord died in the crash, and her unnamed driver was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

Gomez is suspected of walking away from the crash before officers arrived.

Anyone with information about the collision is urged to contact the CHP Garberville office, 707-923-2155.

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