San Diego

2 Arrested After Fleeing Freeway Crash That Killed Passenger

A driver and passenger were arrested after fleeing the scene of a rollover crash that took the life of another passenger, the California Highway Patrol said.

Three people were in a Mercedes on eastbound State Route 94 near Sweetwater Springs Boulevard just before 2 p.m. when it lost control and hit the center guardrail, CHP Officer Travis Garrow said.

The vehicle went up and over the rail and landed on the westbound side of the freeway. A female passenger, identified as Melanie Feliciano, who was unrestrained and seated on the vehicle's center console was transported to the hospital where she died, Garrow said.

The male driver, identified as 27-year-old Rene Ruiz of Spring Valley, and the other female passenger, a 22-year-old from La Mesa, ran from the crash scene on foot leaving the unrestrained passenger trapped in the car.

The two were found about an hour later hiding in a canyon a few hundred yards away and taken to separate area hospitals.

Witness Yousif Abdulwahid told NBC 7 he saw the driver and passenger fleeing and when he asked them if he could help they said no. He said the two were screaming as they ran and seemed nervous.

"It makes me feel very sad," Abdulwahid said. "For those people to run away even though they saw that person get hurt."

He called 911 and helped to assist deputies to catch Ruiz and the passenger.

According to court documents Ruiz is charged with felony DUI, hit and run causing death, murder and possession of a controlled substance for sale.

No other information was available.

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