The county Medical Examiner’s Office on Monday identified a pedestrian who was killed in a hit-and-run crash in the Middletown neighborhood over the Thanksgiving weekend.
According to the ME’s Office, 58-year-old Alexander Leroux died from “multiple blunt force injuries” at 12:38 a.m. Sunday, after being struck by a vehicle.
Officers and paramedics responded to the 3500 block of India Street shortly before midnight Saturday and found a man who had been struck by a car while crossing the street mid-block, according to the San Diego Police Department.
The driver of a silver or gray sedan was traveling northbound on India Street approaching a green light at Vine Street when the pedestrian entered the car’s path, police said. The victim was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
By most accounts, heavy traffic often at speeds well above the posted limit exits Interstate 5 onto a stretch of India Street near Vine Street.
Cristina Oliva works at a popular bar in the area and drives the same route daily.
“There is always so much traffic,” Oliva said. “That’s one thing about this area. We never really see cops over here, so everyone is coming off the freeway super, super fast.”
One hundred yards north of India and Vine streets is where Leroux was struck by a car at full speed without ever applying the brakes or stopping, according to a security camera recording at the Parfait Paris bakery across the street.
The victim was hit with such force based on the video and accident investigation marks left on the street. He was launched some 20-25 feet from the point of impact.
“There are not a lot of streetlights under the bridges, so it would make sense. That’s probably why he didn’t see him,” Oliva said. “But you should never do a hit-and-run.”
Anyone with information about the case was urged to call the SDPD’s Traffic Division or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.