A 17-year-old girl was killed in a hit-and-run in unincorporated Escondido early Saturday while walking across the street with friends, California Highway Patrol officials said.
CHP Officer Mark Latulippe said the deadly hit-and-run happened at around 12:35 a.m. on Mesa Rock Road near Mesa Ranch Drive, east of Interstate 15.
Kirsten Rain Tomlinson was standing with a group of four friends talking outside of a parked car on the right shoulder of Mesa Rock Road when three of the friends and Tomlinson crossed the street from east to west. Latulippe said a car approached the group at a high rate of speed and hit her.
The car took off.
Tomlinson's friends and people who live in the area tried to help her, but she died at the scene.
CHP officials said the suspect's car was described as a pearly white-colored, second-generation Toyota Highlander, likely between a 2008 and 2012 model. The vehicle would have damage to the right front headlight area and right-side mirror from the impact of hitting the girl. The model would look like this, CHP officials said:
Physical evidence was left at the scene including car parts with identification numbers that are being processed, said Latulippe. Multiple sources of video were also being investigated.
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On Sunday, the CHP said they received a tip about a vehicle matching the description in unincorporated Escondido. They confirmed it was the suspect vehicle and arrested 29-year-old Paul Anthony Lissona of Escondido.
Lissona was charged with felony hit-and-run, CHP said. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges were being considered.
Anyone with information is asked to call the CHP Border Communications Center at (858) 637-3800.
