A man riding a bike was struck and killed Wednesday night along a busy Carlsbad street.
Arthur Jacobs, 64, of Vista, was hit by a truck at about 10 p.m. on southbound El Camino Real near Cassia Road. The impact sent him flying into the bushes nearby, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
"He was a good family person, he was always there for us to help in any way he can,"said daughter Marissa Jacobs.
Witnesses told officers the driver who hit Jacobs drove off and pulled into a nearby apartment complex.
"I just saw nine or ten cops come and I saw them arrest a girl,"said Austin Honeycutt.
The Carlsbad resident said he recognized the woman as his neighbor's girlfriend.
"She's really nice, I'm really surprised she would be the one who did that," said Honeycutt.
After officers investigated, they arrested a 23-year-old Julianne Thomson of Carlsbad on charges of felony hit-and-run, manslaughter, and driving while under the influence.
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Witnesses said Thomson tried to escape by hiding in bushes at the Villa Loma apartment complex.
Jacobs' oldest daughter Melissa Tennent said her family doesn't understand why Thomson didn't stop to help her father. "I don't know how to describe it, I am just very angry."
Tennent said her father was an avid cyclist who always rode his bike to work at the Hyatt where he was an industrial cleaner.
"He was very adventurous and never wanted to drive to work even though he could," said Tennent.
Officers closed El Camino Real from Camino Vida Roble to Cassia while they investigated. The road was reopened around 4 a.m. Thursday.
Jacobs was also involved in helping disadvantaged kids by organizing field trips. The family has now set up a foundation to continue Jacobs passion. If anone would like to donate, just go to any Chase bank and contribute to an account under the name "Arthur Jacobs Foundation".
