A late-night ride through Scripps Ranch ended in tragedy today when a 19-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a hit-and-run crash on Carroll Canyon Road. A passerby spotted the rider down on the roadway, and emergency crews arrived quickly but pronounced him dead at the scene. Police say the other driver took off before first responders got there, turning a deadly collision into a criminal investigation.
What investigators say
According to NBC 7 San Diego, the 19-year-old was heading eastbound in the fast lane of the 10000 block of Carroll Canyon Road around 2:30 AM on a 2021 Honda when he slammed into the rear of another vehicle. The impact threw him from the bike. The driver he hit kept going instead of stopping, officers told the outlet, and there was no immediate description available of that fleeing vehicle.
San Diego Police Department traffic investigators launched a death investigation and spent the morning combing the scene, checking nearby businesses and homes for surveillance footage, and looking for anyone who might have seen or heard the crash.
How to report tips
Detectives are urging anyone who was in the area around 2:30 AM, or who has dashcam or security video that might have captured the crash or a vehicle leaving the scene, to come forward. Tips can be shared anonymously through San Diego Crime Stoppers, which operates the tip line at 888-580-8477, or by contacting the San Diego Police Department directly.
Possible legal consequences
Leaving the scene of a crash that injures or kills someone is not just heartless, it is a felony under California law. Vehicle Code 20001 makes it a crime to flee an accident that causes injury or death and allows for penalties that can include two to four years in state prison, along with fines, according to the California Legislative Information website.
Investigation continues in Scripps Ranch
By late Monday morning, SDPD investigators were still processing the scene along Carroll Canyon Road, reviewing any available footage and following up on early leads. Anyone with information that could help identify the driver or vehicle involved is asked to call the department's non-emergency line, submit a tip through the San Diego Police Department website, or contact Crime Stoppers.
