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Photo of Wyatt Savaikie, Facebook.

Elderly Canyon Country Man Pleads Not Guilty In Traffic Death Of Saugus Teen

A 74-year-old man plead not guilty on Thursday after being charged with causing the traffic death of a 14-year-old Saugus resident Wyatt Savaikie in July.


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Ralph August Steger, of Canyon Country, plead not guilty to one misdemeanor count of vehicular manslaughter and one infraction each of unsafe speed and failure to stop at a red light at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Santa Clarita Branch, said Ricardo Santiago, spokesman for the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office.

Steger allegedly struck and killed Savaikie on July 16 as he was crossing the street in a marked crosswalk near Bouquet Canyon Road and Seco Canyon Road. Savaikie was pronounced dead at the scene.

If convicted as charged, Steger faces one year in county jail and a $1,000 fine.

Steger will appear in court for a pretrial conference on Jan. 26, 2016.

“He was beautiful,” Wyatt’s mother, Teresa Savaikie, said in an interview with SCV News in July. “We are so honored to have had the privilege of having him in our lives, as our Gentle Giant, our precious son.”

Wyatt was a kid who loved skateboarding, playing soccer and X-box, who hated spaghetti and loved pizza, said Teresa Savaikie.

The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Santa Clarita Station.

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Elderly Canyon Country Man Pleads Not Guilty In Traffic Death Of Saugus Teen

6 comments

  1. I couldn’t imagine what the family was going through after losing Wyatt, but now I know. On 9/2, my son was a passenger in a car that was going 70mph in a cautionary 35/25mph zone, with a driver that was under the influence.
    The charges filed by the DA can only make the still fresh wounds even more raw. I’m sick to my stomach that history will be repeated.
    My heart truly goes out to Wyatt’s family and friends. I DO understand the life changing grief & the fact that nothing will ever be the same. I know first hand that I can say anything that will lessen the unspeakable pain, but I DO understand.

  2. I couldn’t imagine what the family was going through after losing Wyatt, but now I know. On 9/2, my son was a passenger in a car that was going 70mph in a cautionary 35/25mph zone, with a driver that was under the influence.
    The charges filed by the DA can only make the still fresh wounds even more raw. I’m sick to my stomach that history will be repeated.
    My heart truly goes out to Wyatt’s family and friends. I DO understand the life changing grief & the fact that nothing will ever be the same. I know first hand that I can’t say anything that will lessen the unspeakable pain, but I DO understand.

  3. What a horrible senseless tragedy. My heart goes out to the Savaikie family. I cannot imagine the pain of losing your child. You have our prayers and I hope God can help you get through this tough time.

  4. I am truly sorry for your pain and grief. This person needs to own up to a wrong being made and STOP making it be about how many “dollars” can be spent on an unscrupulous attorney to “LIMIT” his punishment…Defense attorneys that “covet” this guys business should be ashamed, and in my opinion, be “JUDGED” at the end of their days. RIP Wyatt my friend…may God bless your soul

  5. No Cathy, sorry you DON’T understand. Don’t come in this forum and try to equate their pain of losing their son with a traffic ticket. Because that is what you have done. Wyatt is gone and from what you have told us, your child is still alive.
    (If you did in fact lose your child, then please clarify that and how it happened.)

    And for the Heather (who wrote this piece of garbage article), it did take place on Bouquet Canyon Road, not “near it” as you have written. Get your facts straight before you write please.

    – Phil

  6. There are no words to describe the anguish felt everyday without Wyatt in our world, every morning waking up to this reality, wishing it was all but a horrible nightmare, reality takes my breath away. Wyatt was so full of life, if the Websters dictionary used a photograph to define life, it would be Wyatt’s. He was beautiful, loving, funny, sensitive. supportive, curious, his smile lit up the darkest of rooms, his gut wrenching laugh was contagious to all, a personality that made struggling peers laugh until it hurt, his beautiful eyes seemed to twinkle, he was loved by our neighbors, so many telling us how he always acknowledged everyone young or old with a smile, a wave, a conversation, he was very social and only God knows how much I love and miss him. He was a one of a kind person, so outgoing and it still seems so hard to believe he is never coming home. So difficult to see my family hurt, his siblings, all of us and all of those that knew and loved him. I love you Wyatt

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About Heather Harbin

Heather grew up in the Santa Clarita Valley and graduated from West Ranch High School in 2012. She recently graduated from College of the Canyons with an Associate's Degree in New Media Journalism. She was involved in College of the Canyons' "Cougar News" for two years, where she became the senior producer. She will be studying for her Bachelor's Degree at Cal State Northridge in the spring. Heather became a staff writer at KHTS AM-1220 following her internship in the newsroom. She has been writing news and feature articles for the KHTS website since May 2015.