12 PM: A 23-year-old man was arrested for allegedly fleeing the scene after fatally striking a pedestrian under a highway overpass in San Francisco on Saturday morning, a police spokesman said today.
Juan Martinez, a San Francisco resident, was arrested following a crash that was reported at about 8:30 a.m. Saturday near the intersection of Potrero Avenue and Cesar Chavez Street under U.S. Highway 101, police Sgt. Daryl Fong said.
The male victim was found by officers on a traffic island on the street under the highway. Investigators believe Martinez was driving a vehicle that traveled onto the island and struck the victim, according to Fong.
Police arrested Martinez at about 3 p.m. Saturday. He was booked into jail on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, felony hit-and-run, driving on a suspended or revoked license and driving while using a wireless device, Fong said.
He said Martinez’s use of the wireless device while driving “may have played a role” in the crash but “the investigation has not been completed yet.”
The victim has been identified but his name is not being released until his family is notified of the death, according to the medical examiner’s office.
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is encouraged to call the Police Department’s anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or send a tip by text message to TIP411.
10:15 AM: A pedestrian was fatally struck in a hit-and-run under a highway overpass in San Francisco on Saturday morning, police said today.
The crash was reported at about 8:30 a.m. near the intersection of Potrero Avenue and Cesar Chavez Street under U.S. Highway 101.
The victim was found on a traffic island under the highway. Investigators believe a vehicle went onto the island and struck the victim, then the driver fled the scene, according to police.
The name of the victim was not being released as of this morning pending notification of next of kin, according to the medical examiner’s office.
No arrests have been made in the case and no suspect information was immediately available today.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Police Department’s anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or send a tip by text message to TIP411.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
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