A 24-year-old Oceanside man has been arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and felony hit-and-run following a fatal collision that left a 78-year-old pedestrian dead early Thursday, April 16, according to the Oceanside Police Department.
Officers responded around 5 a.m. April 16 to Mission Avenue just east of Mesa Drive in Oceanside after reports of a vehicle striking a pedestrian and fleeing the scene. The victim, described as a 78-year-old man, died as a result of the collision, authorities reported.
Investigators later located the vehicle believed to have been involved in the incident, identified as a 2005 silver Toyota Tacoma, in the 200 block of Los Arbolitos, police said. The driver was detained and taken into custody.
Authorities said drugs or alcohol are not believed to have been factors in the crash. The department’s Major Accident Investigation Team is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Oceanside police traffic investigators at 760-435-4651.
