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Update: Man pleads guilty to felony gross vehicular manslaughter charges 

Update posted Feb. 22, 2024:

Daniel Angel Saliganpatricio, 25

Daniel Angel Saliganpatricio, 25.

Two pedestrians, dog killed in incident

– San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced this week that San Luis Obispo City resident Daniel Angel Saliganpatricio, 25, has pleaded guilty to two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter, both are felonies.

The incident occurred on Nov. 21, 2022, shortly after 5:30 p.m., when it is alleged that Saliganpatricio drove his vehicle at a high speed on Sacramento Drive in San Luis Obispo, failed to make a nearly 90 degree turn and collided with pedestrians Matthew Ernest Chachere and Jennifer Ann Besser who were walking their dog, Buddy. Both pedestrians and their dog were killed.

Saliganpatricio entered his guilty pleas to the court on all of the charged counts, without any agreement on what his sentence would be. Because there was no agreement on a sentence, the judge has wide discretion in imposing a sentence which can range from a period of probation to the maximum term of seven years and four months in prison.

Saliganpatricio is scheduled to be sentenced April 9, 2024, in Department 6 of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, the Honorable Michael S. Frye presiding.

The case was investigated by the San Luis Obispo Police Department and is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Danielle Baker.


 

Update posted March 1, 2023:

Couple, dog killed in San Luis Obispo by speeding driver in November

– On Monday, the San Luis Obispo Police Department issued an update on the double fatal collision that occurred on Nov. 21, 2022. The incident took place at 6:47 p.m. in the 3400 block of Sacramento Drive in San Luis Obispo.

According to the police report, Daniel Saligan Patricio, a 24-year-old resident of San Luis Obispo, was speeding through a curve when he lost control of his vehicle and hit Matthew Chachere and Jennifer Besser, and their pet dog who they were walking at the time. The force of the impact knocked the couple into the adjacent wooded area and down into a dry creek bed where they remained undetected in the darkness and vegetation.

Patricio reportedly either did not know or failed to notify the police that he may have struck two people and a dog. The couple was found under heavy brush near the accident location late the next day after family reported them missing.

After a thorough investigation, the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office filed two felony counts of gross vehicular manslaughter against Patricio and obtained a warrant for his arrest. SLOPD detectives arrested Patricio without incident on Feb. 27, 2023, at his place of employment.

Police Chief Rick Scott expressed his condolences to the family members of the victims and the community as a whole, and added, “SLOPD is committed to the thorough completion of all investigations. We appreciate the patience of the community while we worked towards providing important answers to family members and our community in ultimate pursuit of justice.”

Patricio is currently in San Luis Obispo County Jail, and his bail is set at $200,000.

 


Update posted Nov. 29, 2022:

Victims were walking their dog when they were struck by vehicle

– The San Luis Obispo Police Department has released additional information regarding the two persons and dog found dead in a creek bed last week in San Luis Obispo:

Detectives have been continuing the investigation into this tragic incident. The driver of the vehicle, a 24-year-old male resident of San Luis Obispo, has been cooperative and was interviewed by detectives. Based on the investigation and evidence at the scene, it is believed that the victims were walking their dog when they were struck by the vehicle in the collision. Detectives believe that excessive speed was a factor in this incident. Criminal charges will be determined based on the evidence and findings at the conclusion of the investigation.

If anyone has information relating to the vehicle collision on Monday, Nov. 21, please contact Detective Jeff Koznek at (805) 594-8005 or call Crime Stoppers at (805) 549-7867 to share information anonymously.


Original story posted Nov. 26, 2022:

Police investigating incident, possible connection with traffic accident Monday

– On Monday at approximately 5:35 p.m., the San Luis Obispo Police Department responded to a single-vehicle collision on the 3400 block of Sacramento Drive where a car had reportedly struck the curb, a street sign, and the abutment of the bridge. The driver was not suspected of alcohol impairment; a traffic collision report was completed, and the car was towed.

On Tuesday at 4:40 p.m., SLOPD received a report of a deceased dog in the creek bed in the 3400 block of Sacramento Drive. Officers investigated the scene and attempted to contact the owners of the dog but were unsuccessful and began to make arrangements to have the dog brought to San Luis Obispo County Animal Control.

Several hours later at approximately 9:45 p.m., SLO Police received a missing persons report regarding two San Luis Obispo residents who had not arrived at their expected location in Modesto. Family members provided photos of the residents and their dog. Officers searched the resident’s home and found it empty with no signs of foul play. Upon viewing the photo of the missing dog, a SLO Police dispatcher was able to make the connection between the earlier report of the deceased dog with the dog owned by the missing residents. Officers returned to the heavily wooded creek bed and after a further search of the area discovered the deceased bodies of the missing residents under heavy brush.

The deceased were identified as Matthew Chachere, a 39-year-old resident of San Luis Obispo, and Jennifer Besser, a 36-year-old resident of San Luis Obispo.

San Luis Obispo Police Department Detectives are investigating the scene with assistance from the San Luis Obispo Coroner’s Office, to determine if there is a connection between the traffic accident on Monday and the deceased victims. The cause of death is pending the coroner’s report.

This investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information relating to the vehicle collision on Monday, Nov. 21, contact Detective Jeff Koznek at (805) 594-8005 or call Crime Stoppers at (805) 549-7867 to share information anonymously. Incident numbers: 221121067, 221122063, 221122085.

 

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The news staff of the Paso Robles Daily News wrote or edited this story from local contributors and press releases. The news staff can be reached at info@pasoroblesdailynews.com.