Pedestrian fatally struck in Santa Cruz; hit-and-run suspect returns to scene

A pedestrian who was struck by a car on Santa Cruz’s Mission Street died on Sunday, the police said.

The crash happened around 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, in the 1700 block of Mission (Highway 1), near Bay Street, said a press release from the police. The 30-year-old man was reportedly crossing the street outside a marked crosswalk when he was hit by a northbound vehicle whose driver then left the scene.

The man was taken to a hospital, where he died on Jan. 11.

The suspected driver, a 39-year-old man, returned to the site shortly after the crash, the police said. He was arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run and possession of a controlled substance.

The pedestrian’s identity will not be released until next of kin are notified.