Doug Allen Lewis
Santa Barbara County – One can only imagine the intensity of a personal dispute that leads one individual to run another person down with his car by way of resolving differences. Apparently, however, that’s precisely the circumstance behind the July 26th arrest of 33-year-old New Cuyama resident Doug Allen Lewis.
According to Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover, it was nearly midnight on July 25th when a 911 Emergency call led to the dispatch of Deputies and Santa Barbara County Fire personnel for a reported ‘Subject Down’ on an area roadway. Upon arrival to the Highway 166 location, emergency responders found the body of 41-year-old Travis John Studer—himself a local area New Cuyama resident—on the road.
The immediately ensuing investigation “appeared suspicious” to deputies, leading to the conclusion that Studer had been “struck by a vehicle after an apparent altercation” that preceded his violent demise. At that point, personnel from the SBSD Criminal Investigations Bureau arrived on the scene.
Their analysis of the evidence pointed to Lewis as the likely suspect in the apparent crime, whereupon Lewis was contacted by detectives, interviewed as to the details of his possible involvement in Studer’s death, and subsequently taken in to custody.
Lewis was then transported to Santa Barbara County Jail, where he was booked on a charge of vehicular manslaughter, with his bail set at $50,000.
Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking
