The man accused of hitting and killing Juan Lopez on Cliff Drive in Santa Barbara and then fleeing the scene in his vehicle will face trial, a Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge ruled this week.

Judge Stephen Foley determined there was enough evidence against Brock Hoffman, 56, of Santa Barbara for the hit-and-run case to go to trial after a Monday preliminary hearing.

Hoffman is charged with one felony count of leaving the scene of a crash that resulted in death. On June 29, 2024, Hoffman allegedly was driving and hit Lopez, a pedestrian, on the 800 block of Cliff Drive just after 11:30 p.m. — and then fled the scene.

Santa Barbara police investigators identified Hoffman as the driver of the vehicle that hit Lopez, and he surrendered to police on July 4.

His attorney, Joshua Webb, told Noozhawk that it was a “tragic case.”

“He feels absolutely horrible and remorseful about Mr. Lopez’s passing, and his heart goes out to their family,” Webb said. “He had no intention whatsoever for this to happen.”

Hoffman is not in jail custody after posting $50,000 bail.

An arraignment on the information is set for Aug. 11 in Superior Court.

“The case is not set for trial at all anytime soon,” Webb said.

Lopez, 39, worked as the deli manager at the Vons on Cliff Drive. He was in training to become the general manager. His family remembers him as a loving, humble father.

Born in Santa Barbara, Lopez attended San Marcos High School and worked for years at his father’s landscaping company. He bounced around a bit, living in Santa Maria, Oxnard and Ventura before returning to Santa Barbara.