Venessa Rose Noblitt, 45 of San Luis Obispo has been sentenced to nearly 10 years in State Prison in the fatal hit-and-run crash that killed an elderly cyclist. Submitted photo
The driver in a fatal hit-and-run accident that killed an elderly bicyclist has been sentenced to State Prison, the District Attorney’s Office said.
Venessa Rose Noblitt, 45 of San Luis Obispo pled guilty on Sept. 15 to vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or more causing injury, and hit and run stemming from the July 2024 death of 86-year-old cyclist, Saul Goldberg, and injuring his riding companion, Martin Suits.
Judge Rita Federman sentenced Noblitt on Oct. 13 to 9-years and 8-months in State Prison.
Noblitt admitted that her BAC was .15 percent or higher, that she inflicted great bodily injury on each victim, and admitted the aggravating factor that the victim was particularly vulnerable. Her conviction for DUI causing great bodily injury counts as a strike under California’s Three Strikes Law. Her sentence was the maximum allowed by law, the D.A. said.
The case is a cyclist’s worst nightmare. “Around noon on July 23, 2024,” the D.A. said, “Noblitt was driving southbound on South Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo when she drifted into the bike lane and struck Mr. Goldberg from the side as he and Mr. Suits rode together in the southbound bike lane. Both men went down. South Higuera Street has a Class B bike lane, meaning it is simply stripes painted on the roadway designating the bike lane and not physically separated from traffic.
“Mr. Suits suffered a concussion and other injuries, and Mr. Goldberg died from his injuries several days later. Noblitt left the scene and was arrested after she struck a parked car in a nearby mobile home park. Her blood alcohol concentration was determined to be .31 percent, nearly four times the legal limit.”
“Goldberg,” the news release said, “was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.”
Carol Goldberg read a victim’s impact statement at the sentencing: “I was married to Saul for 64 years. At the time of this tragedy, Saul and I were looking forward to celebrating our 65th wedding anniversary on December 5th in Australia. Every day now, I wake up to a reality I never chose: a life without my best friend and the love of my life.
“Through a reckless and selfish act, Vanessa Noblitt took the life not only of my husband, but also of a caring and generous father and grandfather. I live each day carrying a loss that can never be repaired, and I will miss everything about Saul for the rest of my life.”
District Attorney Dan Dow said, “Saul Goldberg should have finished his bike ride that day and gone home to the family who loved him. Instead, a choice to drive with a blood alcohol level nearly four times the legal limit took him from his wife of 64 years, his children, and his grandchildren, and left his friend injured on the side of the road.
“Our hearts are with Mrs. Goldberg, the Goldberg family, and Mr. Suits. I am grateful for the courage they showed in standing up for Saul throughout this case. No sentence can repair a loss like this, but our criminal and victim justice system has held this defendant accountable with an appropriate prison sentence. To everyone in our community: the decision to drive impaired is always avoidable. Please plan ahead for a sober ride.”
Judge Federman also ordered Noblitt to pay restitution in an amount yet to be determined. A restitution status hearing is set for Jan. 12, 2027.
The case was investigated by the San Luis Obispo Police Department and prosecuted by Dep. D.A. Delaney Henretty. Victim support services were provided by Victim Advocate, Tristan Milledge, and Witness Coordinator, Eloiza Basinger.
