A 76-year-old man was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver in Oceanside early Thursday, and police said they arrested a suspect a short time later with help from video captured by a Tesla’s camera.
The collision was reported around 5 a.m. on Mission Avenue east of Mesa Drive. According to Oceanside police, the pedestrian was hit by the pickup as he was walking in the middle of the road. The victim has not been identified.
Police said the driver fled the scene after the collision. However, a driver in a Tesla was behind the truck, and police said its camera captured the crash.
Using that footage, investigators identified a 2005 silver Toyota Tacoma as being the suspect’s vehicle and looked up the registered owner’s address. The vehicle was located in the parking lot of an apartment complex, said police spokesperson Gina Avalos.
A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run and vehicular manslaughter. He was being held in Vista jail in lieu of $105,000, according to the sheriff’s online booking site.
In a news release, the department said investigators do not believe drugs or alcohol were factors in the collision.
However, the booking website indicated the man was facing a DUI charge. Avalos said that the charge is related to a warrant issued after the man allegedly failed to complete classes after a previous DUI.