San Diego police are searching for a black pickup truck suspected in a deadly hit-and-run crash in Hillcrest.
The victim in the collision was a man walking his dog along University Avenue.
Witnesses told San Diego police that the man was struck around 7 p.m. Sunday on University between Vermont Street and 10th Avenue.
Police said the victim had crossed mid-block and not at the crosswalk.
The victim's name has not been released. He was described by officials as a 35-year-old man who was walking his Chihuahua.
Investigators believe the black pickup truck struck the man and then kept traveling eastbound along University Avenue.
Police believe the truck is a four-wheel drive vehicle and may have front end damage. Witnesses said there was a passenger in the truck at the time of the collision.
The victim was taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital, but died shortly after.
The intersection is a busy area for pedestrians and drivers.
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However, some residents told NBC 7 they didn't consider the area a particularly dangerous spot.
“They talk about being a defensive driver. You have to be a defensive pedestrian, I guess,” said resident Kitty Kinman.
“I walk here in the mornings back and forth to the gym. I don’t walk here in the evenings so I don’t know much about that, but I have never felt it was a big concern,” said resident Philip Milten.
The victim's dog was unharmed and still at the scene when police arrived Sunday. She was taken to the county's Department of Animals Services facility on Gaines Street.
Animal Control officials told NBC 7 that the 2-year-old Chihuahua/miniature pinscher mix, Minnie, had been adopted from them in 2012. However, Minnie was adopted to a different owner, not the accident victim.
"We're still trying to track down ownership, figure out how that chain of custody kind of went and who she belongs with," said Lt. Kalani Hudson with the Department of Animal Services. "That way, she can go ahead and go home."
The shelter will hold Minnie for two weeks. If no one comes forward and claims her, she’ll be put up for adoption.
