San Diego

Suspect in Lincoln Park Hit and Run Turned Self in: PD

22-year old Darius Runnells is facing felony hit and run charges

A suspect wanted in a fatal Lincoln Park hit and run turned himself in to authorities Wednesday, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) confirmed.

Darius Runnells, 22, is facing felony hit and run charges causing a death.

On April 5, around 8:25 p.m., 57-year-old Ruben Meza was struck by a vehicle while walking across the street on the 1200 block of South 47th Street.

Police said Meza had just parked his car and was heading to his apartment nearby where he lived with his wife.

A man was struck and killed Wednesday night near Logan Avenue and 47th Street by a hit and run driver. NBC 7’s Gaby Rodriguez reports from the neighborhood of Lincoln Park where residents are concerned about safety.

Runnells is suspected to be the driver behind the wheel at the time of the crash.

NBC 7 learned on Wednesday, Runnells' driving privileges had been suspended more than a year ago for driving without a license,  traffic infraction and failure to appear in court, according to records from the Department of Motor Vehicle.

Police said at the time of the fatal crash, Runnells' had been driving a Toyota Corolla registered to his mother.

Runnells' mother lives just around the block from where Ruben Meza was killed.

The car was discovered a mile away in the Valencia Park neighborhood just two days after the incident.

Erica Gonzalez, who had heard about the hit and run the night before, found deep depressions in the windshield and hood. She took photos and called police.

NBC 7’s Dave Summers has an exclusive witness interview regarding a vehicle found Thursday that may be connected to a fatal hit-and-run investigation in Lincoln Park the night before.

"We realized there was human hair and we thought it was suspicious," Gonzalez told NBC 7 last week.

Police said Runnells turned himself in Tuesday around 1:45 p.m.

Last week, NBC 7 also spoke to Meza's widow who said her plea for improved street safety in their neighborhood would be heard loud and clear.

A grieving widow is asking the City of San Diego to make changes the a street in Lincoln Park after her husband was hit and left for dead in the middle of the street. NBC 7’s Ashley Matthews reports.
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