Man charged in fatal hit-and-run crash in Yakima County

YAKIMA COUNTY, Wash. – A Mexican man faces multiple hit-and-run charges after a woman was killed in a traffic crash in Yakima County.

According to the Washington State Patrol, 28-year-old Berzain Santiz-Santiz of Chiapas, Mexico, was traveling north on State Route 97 and approached Branch Road, two miles outside the Toppenish city limits.

Another car, driven by 32-year-old Noemi Salazar Perez of Sunnyside, failed to yield the right of way and Santiz crashed into her car. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two other people were injured in this accident.

Santiz fled the scene on foot and was arrested shortly thereafter.

On Tuesday, he appeared in court where he is charged with two counts of hit-and-run causing personal injury, drunk driving and hit-and-run causing death.

According to the inmate search, his bail was set at $15,000.