Arrest Made In Hit-And-Run In Redondo Beach

REDONDO BEACH, CA – Redondo Beach police arrested a young woman in connection with a hit-and-run crash that killed a 21-year-old college student over the weekend, RBPD announced Monday afternoon.

It didn't take long for police to find the mangled car and track down the alleged hit-and-run driver, authorities said. According to police officials, the driver quickly admitted to the crime.

"Leila Gonzalez, 21 years old, residing in the City of Bell, Calif., has admitted to investigators that she was driving the vehicle involved in this collision," police said in a press release. "Gonzalez was booked into the Redondo Beach jail on a charge of felony hit-and-run resulting in death/injury."

Her bail is set at $50,000 and she is due to appear in Torrance court on Jan. 30.

RBPD officers found the vehicle involved in the incident a short distance away from the scene of the crash Sunday at approximately 8:21 a.m., according to police. The car was damaged beyond repair, processed by crime scene investigators and impounded as evidence, RBPD said. Police are still gathering evidence to review in order to determine the cause of the collision, according to the press release.

The hit-and-run happened at 9:05 p.m. Saturday on the 1500 block of Aviation Boulevard at the intersection of Grant Avenue, according to Lt. Shawn Freeman of the Redondo Beach Police Department. Family members told reporters the victim was Angelina Calderon Pinedo, from Rosemead, who was a college student at San Francisco State University. Pinedo had just finished her junior year at the college, according to her family.

Pinedo was crossing from the west sidewalk on Aviation at Grant when she was hit by a vehicle traveling south on Aviation. Instead of stopping, the motorist continued driving south on Aviation, Freeman said.

Pinedo died from her injuries, but it was unclear if she was pronounced dead at the scene or elsewhere. Her family held a prayer gathering at their Rosemead home Sunday at 4 p.m.

Police described the suspect vehicle as a black Audi Q5 SUV with the partial license plate 7MB and damage to the front windshield and hood.

The collision remains under investigation and anyone with information regarding the incident or who may have witnessed the collision should contact Investigator Clint Daniel at (310) 379-2477 ext 2721 or via email at clint.daniel@Redondo.org.

City News Service contributed to this post; Image via Redondo Beach Police Department