PACIFIC BEACH, Calif. (KGTV) — A Saturday night in Pacific Beach turned tragic after a hit-and-run crash killed a six-year-old boy, according to San Diego police.
Investigators say the child was riding his bike on the sidewalk along Pacific Beach Drive when a car turned into a nearby alley and struck him. Police say the driver briefly stopped, then drove off — running over the child before fleeing the scene.
The boy was rushed to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
According to authorities, the suspect is a 32-year-old woman who was later found in National City. Police say alcohol was not a factor in the crash.
Residents in the neighborhood say the incident has left the community shaken. Several neighbors told ABC 10News they witnessed the aftermath in the alley, prompting the closure of a stretch of Pacific Beach Drive as officers investigated.
“I heard people yelling, so I looked outside,” said Pacific Beach resident Hannah Davis. “Over in that alley, I saw a bunch of people gathering around someone laying on the ground.”
Davis, who has lived in the area for about a year and a half, said she has always considered the neighborhood safe.
“I take walks at night with my headphones on pretty often,” she said. “I’ve never really felt scared here.”
Police say hit-and-run crashes involving pedestrians have been reported across San Diego in recent months, with some turning deadly.
“It hurts to hear that,” said Pacific Beach resident Willem Holzrichter. “I grew up biking around my own neighborhood.”
Holzrichter added that the crash highlights the need for drivers to stay alert and follow traffic laws.
“We see people blow through stop signs all the time,” he said. “The more aware people are behind the wheel, the safer everyone will be.”
San Diego police say the driver was later located in National City and taken into custody. Investigators say alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash.
The case remains under investigation by the San Diego Police Department’s Traffic Division.
This is a developing story. Stay with ABC 10News as our team of journalists works to gather the latest information.
