A long-running Skagit County hit-and-run case may finally be heading back to court. Washington State Patrol detectives on Thursday arrested Manuel Cortez‑Vargas, 33, in Madera, California, where he was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Madera County Jail. Authorities say he is expected to be returned to Skagit County to face a hit‑and‑run fatality charge tied to a rollover crash that killed a 19‑year‑old passenger.
WSP credits Madera police for the arrest
According to Washington State Patrol, detectives tracked down Cortez‑Vargas in Madera on April 30, 2026, after a multi‑agency effort. In its post, the agency said WSP detectives worked closely with Madera Police Department detectives and that Cortez‑Vargas was taken into custody without incident. The post also notes that he had failed to appear on the underlying hit‑and‑run fatality charge and was booked into the Madera County Jail pending extradition to Washington.
Most wanted flyer ties case to 2012 rollover
The agency's most wanted flyer lays out the original case. On March 5, 2012, a silver Honda Accord driven by Cortez‑Vargas failed to negotiate a curve on Sapp Road and rolled into a slough, where passenger Cameron Sheridan, 19, was trapped and drowned. A hit‑and‑run fatality warrant followed on March 7, 2012, and Cortez‑Vargas was placed on WSP's wanted list that same year. These details appear on the Washington State Patrol wanted flyer.
Extradition and next steps
The agency's post states that Cortez‑Vargas will be extradited to Skagit County to continue court proceedings, where prosecutors will determine how to proceed on the hit‑and‑run fatality charge. "The arrest shows WSP's commitment to public safety and justice," Chief John R. Batiste said in the post. Officials have not released any additional information about the arrest or any new charges, and the court calendar will determine when hearings are held.
