Esgar Santizo-Ortiz

Name of Accused:
Santizo-Ortiz, Esgar Isael

Date of Arrest:
08/26/2024

Charges For Arrest:
Driving Without A Valid License, Misd
Hit & Run; Driver To Stop/ Return To Accident Scene
Failure To Maintain Lane
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
On August 26, 2024 at approximately 0620, Deputy Loftis responded to a hit and run accident that occurred on the Dalton Bypass approximately 300 ft south of Poly Pac Rd. Deputy McKenzie and Lieutenant Stevens arrived on scene with Deputy Loftis arriving shortly after. Lt. Stephens asked the driver of the truck that struck the caller’s mustang, Esgar Isael Santizo-Ortiz, for his driver’s license. Esgar stated that he did not have a driver’s license. Deputy Loftis then took Esgar into custody and placed him in the back of the patrol vehicle.
Deputy Loftis spoke with the caller, [VICTIM #1], about what had happened. [VICTIM #1] stated that Esgar and himself were traveling south on the North Dalton Bypass just south of Poly Pac Rd. when Esgar drifted into his lane and collided with [VICTIM #1]’s vehicle. [VICTIM #1] stated that he was in the right lane and Esgar was in the left lane when the red truck crossed over the dotted line and struck his vehicle. [VICTIM #1] stated that he attempted to speak with Esgar at the intersection of the Dalton Bypass and Cleveland Hwy. [VICTIM #1] then stated that Esgar drove off. [VICTIM #1] stated that he then followed Esgar flashing his lights to get him to stop. [VICTIM #1] stated that driver 1 finally stopped on Cross St. off of Old Grade Rd. and waited for law enforcement to arrive.
Deputy Loftis then transported Esgar to the Whitfield County correctional Facility and was handed over to the Whitfield County jail staff. Deputy Loftis spoke with Esgar after arriving at the Whitfield County Correctional Facility due to needing someone to translate from Spanish to English. Esgar stated that he was driving home after he dropped someone off at work. Esgar stated that he did not notice that he hit the other vehicle. Esgar then stated that there were 2 trailers in the roadway and that he signaled to move over. Esgar stated that he felt his car hit something but kept driving. Deputy Loftis then asked if [VICTIM #1] attempted to contact him at the intersection of the Dalton Bypass and Cleveland Hwy. Esgar stated that he did but he didn’t believe he had hit anything and kept driving. Esgar stated that he had pulled over at his house to speak with [VICTIM #1].
Esgar was charged with the following: O.C.G.A. 40-6-270 Hit and Run on citation number 314070, O.C.G.A. 40-5-20 Driving Without a License on citation number 314069, and O.C.G.A. 40-6-48 Failure to Maintain Lane on citation number 314071.
[End of Narrative]