Escondido Man Arrested In Fatal Hit-And-Run Crash

ESCONDIDO, CA — A man suspected of fleeing after fatally striking a pedestrian last week in northern San Diego County was arrested Tuesday, authorities said.

Jose Christian Sanchez Linares, 28, was taken into custody in connection with the May 29 hit-and-run crash on West Ninth Avenue near Redwood Street, according to the Escondido Police Department.

Subscribe

Police said Freddie Olmeda, 31, of Escondido, was crossing the street outside a crosswalk when he was struck by a vehicle about 8:30 p.m. The driver continued driving and left the scene, police said.

A second vehicle then struck Olmeda as he was in the roadway. He was taken to Palomar Medical Center, where he died.

Investigators later found the first vehicle abandoned a short distance from the crash scene.

Police identified and interviewed the driver of the second vehicle. Based on the driver's statement, physical evidence and video footage, investigators determined he was unaware he had struck Olmeda and will not face charges, police said.

Sanchez Linares was booked into the Vista Detention Facility on suspicion of felony hit-and-run.