Authorities on Tuesday released the name of the woman who was struck by a vehicle and killed early Saturday on Highway 246 in the Santa Ynez Valley.

The victim was Michelle Dalton, 59, of the Santa Ynez area, according to Raquel Zick, public information officer for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Bureau.

A small dog that was with Dalton also died in the collision, which occurred shortly before 5:30 a.m.

Personnel from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, the California Highway Patrol and American Medical Response were dispatched to the incident on the highway east of Via Juana, in Santa Ynez, fire Capt. Scott Safechuck said. 

Dalton and the dog were pronounced dead at the scene by emergency personnel.

CHP Officer Michael Griffith said Dalton was walking within the eastbound lane of the highway in the pre-dawn hours when she was struck. 

A 2017 Dodge Challenger driven by Johnny Gonzalez, 38, of Lompoc was eastbound on Highway 246, approaching the pedestrian from the west but did not see her. 

He was unable to stop before the front of his vehicle slammed into Dalton, fatally injuring her, Griffith said.

Gonzalez was not injured in the incident, Griffith said.

The CHP initially said the victim was from Exeter, a small city in Tulare County in the San Joaquin Valley.

Alcohol and drugs do not appear to be factors in the incident, Griffith added.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Officer Reed by calling 805.688.5551.