REDWOOD CITY, CA — A Redwood City man has been arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that killed a pedestrian who was trying to stop him from fleeing the scene of a crash, police said.
Lazaro Gregorio Chacajlux, 32, surrendered to Redwood City police investigators Wednesday and was booked into the San Mateo County Maguire Correctional Facility on suspicion of felony hit-and-run resulting in death and gross vehicular manslaughter.
The arrest stems from a collision reported around 7:41 p.m. Tuesday near the 800 block of Woodside Road.
Police said the victim was riding in a Jeep traveling south on Hudson Street when it was sideswiped by a white Ford pickup truck exiting a driveway behind the Shell gas station.
The Jeep's driver pulled over to exchange information, but Chacajlux drove away without stopping, police said.
Investigators said the 36-year-old victim chased the pickup on foot and caught up to it as traffic slowed on Woodside Road. He grabbed onto the truck in an attempt to stop it, but Chacajlux accelerated with the victim still holding on, police said. The victim fell from the truck and was run over.
He was pronounced dead at the scene despite lifesaving efforts.
Detectives interviewed witnesses, collected surveillance video and followed investigative leads. A police drone later located the abandoned pickup a short distance from the scene, and officers seized it as evidence.
Police said Chacajlux surrendered the following day.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Redwood City Police Department at 650-780-7100.
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