A Lompoc Valley man has been arrested in connection with a multi-vehicle crash Sunday morning in Santa Maria where he allegedly rammed one vehicle several additional times following a confrontation and then fled the scene, causing other collisions.

At approximately 11:30 a.m., officers with the Santa Maria Police Department responded to a reported injury collision at the intersection of Bradley and Betteravia roads, Lt. Todd Logan said.

Upon arrival, officers located multiple damaged vehicles in the intersection and began an investigation.

They learned that a vehicle stopped northbound on Bradley Road had been rear-ended by a pickup truck. 

“Following a brief confrontation between the drivers, the pickup truck struck the lead vehicle multiple additional times, pushing it into the intersection,” Logan said.

The suspect’s vehicle then drove recklessly through the intersection and collided with a westbound vehicle, which subsequently struck a fourth vehicle, Logan added. 

The driver reportedly responsible for the collisions fled the scene, police said. 

One driver was transported by an American Medical Response ambulance to Marian Regional Medical Center due to injuries that were later determined to be non-life threatening, Logan added.

Officers later located the suspect vehicle at a residence in Vandenberg Village. 

Ronen Lee Andersen, 45, of Lompoc, was taken into custody and arrested for suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and felony hit and run. 

Andersen was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail and remained in custody Sunday evening with bail set at $50,000.

The incident remains under investigation, and anyone who may have witnessed the crash can contact the Santa Maria Police Department at 805.928.3781, ext. 2277.