A 59-year-old man suspected in a fatal Long Beach hit-and-run in December 2024 has been taken into custody, authorities announced on Thursday, Jan 29.
Mario Jesus Escobar Acosta of Woodland in Yolo County was arrested Monday by the U.S. Marshals Service in Sacramento and later booked at the Long Beach City Jail on suspicion of hit-and-run resulting in a fatal injury, with a bail set at $50,000, according to the Long Beach Police Department.
The department cited an extensive review of security camera footage and the use of Automatic License Plate Reader technology in apprehending Acosta.
On Dec. 26, 2004, officers responded to a traffic collision at California Avenue and San Antonio Drive.
The officers located a driver whose vehicle had been struck in a hit-and-run, police said. The woman declined medical treatment upon their arrival, but later took herself to a hospital. The victim, identified as 78-year-old Nikki Rash, died of her injuries on Jan. 4, 2025, at the hospital.
A preliminary investigation revealed that a tan Toyota Avalon heading eastbound on San Antonio Drive ran a red light at California Avenue, striking Rash’s vehicle.
“The driver briefly got out of his car, then got back in and fled the scene,” the police department said in a statement.
Detectives were investigating distracted driving as a possible factor leading to the fatal collision.
No further details were available Thursday.
Anyone with information regarding the crash was urged to contact LAPD Collision Investigation Detail Detective Ashley Van Holland at 562-570-7355. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.