An 81-year-old pedestrian was fatally injured in a hit and run collision Saturday in National City, police said.
The incident happened in the 1900 block of Highland Avenue at around 6:30 p.m.
According to police, the woman -- now identified as National City resident Elana Huerta -- was walking near her church when an unknown van traveling northbound struck her.
The driver sped off, leaving her behind in critical condition.
Officers said Huerta was crossing a portion of the street with no crosswalk with a small aluminum cart when she was hit. The impact was so hard, one of the wheels from her cart landed more than 25 feet down the road.
“She had an aluminum cart that we believe she was pushing across the street when she was struck. We located a wheel about 25 to 30 feet on the opposite side of traffic,” said National City Police Department Sgt. Alex Hernandez.
When police arrived, they found Huerta injured in the street, suffering from a broken pelvis and internal injuries. She was conscious but bleeding from the head.
"She was close to the middle of [the] block, so we're not sure where she crossed, but that was where she was found,” added Sgt. Hernandez.
Two witnesses called 911 to report the accident. The victim was taken to UCSD Medical Center in critical condition and was rushed into surgery, authorities said.
Huerta died from her injuries a short time later.
Her family told police she may have been coming from church when she was hit.
Witnesses told police that the van involved in the hit and run was an older model, full-sized van in a brown or burgundy color. It was driven by a man in his 40s. There may be some damage to the front of the van.
Authorities later confirmed that the suspect involved in this fatal hit and run crash turned himself into police early Sunday morning.
Suspect Alejandro Lomas Hernandez is being charged with a felony hit and run. He was booked into county jail.