The CHP has Identified the victims as Elizabeth Contreras (36 yrs) from Santa Barbara, and Alan Garcia (38 yrs) of Goleta.  The investigation is continuing and in addition to the charges noted earlier, Peters is also being charged with vehicular manslaughter.

SANTA BARBARA - On Saturday January 16, 2009 at approximately 7:38 pm, Santa Barbara Police received a call of a traffic collision with two pedestrians in the roadway Las Positas Rd near Earl Warren Showground. Upon arrival, emergency personnel determined the two pedestrians were victims of a hit and run collision. The male and female were pronounced deceased from their injuries.

A witness, who immediately came upon the collision, saw a silver or gray Chevrolet van leaving the scene, first at a slow rate of speed and then it quickly sped up. The witness was able to get the license plate number.

An investigation quickly determined the driver of the van was a parolee and registered sex offender. The subject, Jon Steffen Peters (46 yrs) is required to wear a GPS monitoring device. With the assistance of local parole officers, police were able to use the GPS system and Peters was located and taken into custody after dropping the van off at a different location. The van was found at a location which Peters gave as a secondary address to sheriff’s deputies the previous evening. The van had significant damage which was consistent with the evidence left at the scene.

Peters was transported to the police station where he subsequently admitted to leaving the scene of the fatal traffic collision. He was booked at Santa Barbara Co. Jail for felony hit and run, violation of parole. There is no evidence to show that Peters was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

At the time of this news release, the next of kin for both victims had not been notified.

The Santa Barbara Police Department Collision Reconstruction Team responded to assist in the investigation and will continue to investigate to determine if any additional charges against Peters will be made.