A hit-and-run driver killed a woman Sunday night on Oceanside's State Route 76, leaving her body in the road and prompting a multi-hour closure of the major eastbound thoroughfare. The fatal incident, which occurred near Guajome Lake Road and Guajome Regional Park, has sparked public safety concerns for residents and commuters in the Greater Oceanside area, given the highway's critical role in daily travel.
Oceanside police received a call shortly before 9:45 p.m. reporting a body in the middle of State Route 76, said Oceanside police Lt. Bill Weese. Arriving officers found the woman lying in the eastbound lanes of the highway and pronounced her dead. Investigators believe an eastbound vehicle struck the woman as she stood in the road, then fled the scene.
Authorities identified the victim as Naidy Cruz, 31, of Hemet, a city in Riverside County. Oceanside Police spokesperson Gina Avalos said investigators believe at least two vehicles may have struck Cruz in the eastbound lanes of State Route 76, just east of Guajome Lake Road. The Oceanside Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team is leading the investigation into the fatal hit-and-run, which has no description of the suspect vehicle or its driver.
Following the collision, officers closed a stretch of eastbound State Route 76 between Guajome Lake Road and Melrose Drive for several hours. This closure allowed the Major Accident Investigation Team to examine the scene and collect evidence, lasting until early Monday morning. Authorities reopened the roadway around 6 a.m., according to a department post on X, formerly Twitter, disrupting early morning commutes for many Oceanside residents.
The Oceanside Police Department is seeking witnesses who may have observed the collision or have any information about the vehicles involved. The department urges anyone with details to contact Traffic Investigator Kevin Lissner at 760-435-4651. Community cooperation is vital, as residents often hold crucial information that can help resolve such serious incidents.