A weekend night in Escondido turned deadly when a man was struck and killed in a hit-and-run yesterday, and the driver took off before officers arrived. The crash, near Ninth Avenue and Redwood Street, has police searching for whoever was behind the wheel.
What investigators say
According to Escondido police, the collision happened around 8:30 PM near Ninth Avenue and Redwood Street. The man who was hit was rushed to a local hospital, where he later died. Officers say the driver never stopped and instead fled the scene. A vehicle believed to be tied to the crash was later found abandoned a short distance away, and investigators are also looking into whether a second vehicle may have been involved, as reported by FOX 5 San Diego.
How to help
The Escondido Police Department's Traffic Division handles serious and fatal hit-and-run cases and regularly asks the public to share tips and video that might identify drivers, according to the Escondido Police Department. Local reporting identifies Traffic Investigator Adam Ayres as the case contact at 760-839-4714, and media coverage has cited Ayres in previous investigations, including a story in Times of San Diego. Anyone with dash-cam, doorbell camera, or other footage from the area is urged to pass it on to detectives.
Local pattern
Escondido has been dealing with multiple fatal hit-and-run cases in recent months, and detectives say community video and tips are often what break these investigations open. For context on another recent, high-profile case, see Hoodline's coverage of the deadly Escondido hit-and-run.
Anyone with information about Saturday's crash is asked to call the Escondido Police Department's non-emergency line at 760-839-4722 or the Traffic Division tip line at 760-839-4714. Tipsters can also submit video or information through the department's online reporting options, according to the Escondido Police Department.
