The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday that Derrick Thompson pled guilty to all felony charges against him in a hit-and-run crash.
Thompson, 23, of Minnesota pled guilty to charges of evading an officer causing injury, leaving the scene of a crash causing permanent injury and conspiracy to possess marijuana for sale. The DA's office says Thompson also admitted to the special allegation of personally inflicting great bodily injury causing a comatose condition due to brain injury.
The crash happened on Sept. 4, 2018. Investigators say Thompson was the driver who struck a woman who was walking along Butterfly Ln.
CHP says Ventura police had chased Thompson's car into the Montecito area after trying to stop the vehicle for reckless driving.
After the woman was hit, investigators say the vehicle crashed into a wall and Thompson ran away. Two passengers in the car were arrested at the scene.
Authorities conducted a search of the area but were unable to locate Thompson at the time. Thompson was later located in Minnesota and taken into custody.
The victim in the crash fought for her life in a coma for several weeks.
On Tuesday, a superior court judge sentenced Thompson to eight years in state prison.
