Pedestrian Killed 3 Days Before 24th Birthday ID'd

SANTA CRUZ, CA – A 23-year-old woman who was hit and killed Friday afternoon in Santa Cruz has been identified by police as McKenzie Helene Gilbert of Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz police Lt. Warren Barry said Monday would have been her 24th birthday.

Kelsey Knoll, 24, of Mount Hermon in Santa Cruz, was arrested on suspicion of murder and violating probation after the fatal collision at 3:25 p.m. on Friday. She was located in her vehicle about a block away from the accident scene.

The victim, Gilbert, was walking west on Modesto Avenue when struck by a 1999 black Infiniti SUV, also traveling west, in the intersection at Sacramento Avenue. She was pronounced dead at the scene, the Santa Cruz Police Department said.

A California Highway Patrol drug-recognition expert examined Knoll to determine if she was driving under the influence, and results of blood and alcohol testing are pending, police said.

"It is unknown at this time if alcohol, drugs or vehicular speed were a factor in the collision," the agency said, adding that no motive is known.

A service to celebrate Gilbert's life is planned at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Los Gatos on Tuesday, July 31 at 11 a.m. following a mass. "All are welcome to those who knew McKenzie or our family," the victim's mother posted on social media.

"Our family is devastated and in disbelief," she wrote.

Knoll was booked at Santa Cruz County Main Jail with bail set at $2.5 million.

Anyone with information about the collision is asked to call investigators at (831) 420-5820 or leave an anonymous tip at (831) 420-5995 or www.santacruzpolice.com.

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--Bay City News contributed to this report/Images of suspect Knoll, accident scene via SCPD