Suspected driver in hit-and-run that killed 3-year old boy arrested, say police
SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The Salinas Police Department said Ricardo Archundia Cruz (20) has been arrested for vehicular manslaughter.
Detectives said they began reaching out to Cruz's family and friends after learning he had fled to Mexico following the incident. The suspect's family contacted him, encouraging him to return to the border and turn himself in.
Police said Cruz turned himself in to U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agents at the San Ysidro Point of Entry at about 9 a.m. Saturday morning.
Salinas Police detectives and members of the Salinas Violence Suppression Task Force were at the border and took custody of Cruz. Detectives brought him back to Salinas and booked him into the Monterey County Jail.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: The Salinas Police Department announced Wednesday who the suspect is in a deadly hit-and-run accident that happened on Friday, July 26 at approximately 6:20 pm in Salinas.
The suspect is identified as Ricardo Archundia Cruz (20) and he was driving a maroon Hyundai westbound on E. Alisal St., according to police. The deadly hit-and-run took place at the corner of E. Alisal St. and Wood St., according to police.
The initial police investigation revealed that both victims were walking southbound on Wood St. in the crosswalk after receiving the pedestrian walk signal. When officers arrived on scene they located an adult male with significant injuries and a three-year-old who was pronounced deceased on scene, according to police. The adult male was transported with non-life-threatening injuries to the hospital.
Salinas police say that the suspect ran the red light at a high rate of speed, which struck both victims before he fled the scene.
On Saturday early in the morning, officers located the suspect's vehicle unoccupied.
"Through the course of this extensive investigation Salinas Police Officers and Detectives worked tirelessly and have been able to as the suspect," wrote Salinas police on Facebook. They got a warrant for the arrest of Archundia Cruz on the charges of Vehicular Manslaughter and Hit and Run.
Detectives have also confirmed that they received information that led them to believe Archundia Cruz fled to Mexico immediately after the incident.
Police are asking anyone with information about the incident or regarding Archundia Cruz's location, to please contact Detective Robert Miller at 831-758-7954 or robertm@ci.salinas.ca.us.
The Salinas Police Department accepts anonymous tips at 831-775-4222.
