Woman Killed, Suspect Arrested In Carlsbad Hit-And-Run Crash

CARLSBAD, CA — Authorities have arrested the driver of a car that fatally struck a pedestrian and then fled the scene in Carlsbad.

The collision happened at 12:37 a.m. Tuesday in the 2200 block of Las Palmas Drive, according to the Carlsbad Police Department.

Officers found a Volkswagen Jetta had crashed into three cars and a pedestrian who had just exited her car. The 23-year-old San Diego woman was pronounced dead while the driver of the Volkswagen left the scene, Carlsbad police spokesperson Denise Ramirez said in a news release.

"Per a witness, the Volkswagen was traveling eastbound on Las Palmas Drive at a high rate of speed prior to the collision," Ramirez said.

Jose Manuel Zambrano Cruz, 26, of Carlsbad was identified as the driver of the Volkswagen, Ramirez said. He was found in the 6600 block of El Camino Real and arrested on suspicion of felony hit and run, DUI causing injury or death, and vehicular manslaughter. He was booked into the Vista Detention Facility.

The identity of the victim was withheld pending family notification.