California Highway Patrol officers are searching for the driver of a Toyota Prius abandoned after striking and killing a man on Interstate 280 northbound just south of Geneva Avenue.
CHP dispatch received a call around 2:25 a.m. on Thursday about a down pedestrian beside the median, CHP Officer Mark Andrews said. Officers responded to the scene, found the victim suffering major injuries, requested assistance from the San Francisco Fire Department and made life-saving efforts.
"SFFD engine, EMS Rescue Captain and a paramedic ambulance arrived on scene," SFFD's Samuel Menchaca told The Ingleside Light. "Units assessed the person."
SFFD paramedics declared the person deceased at 2:37 a.m. and called the San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Menchaca said.
CHP officers determined the driver of a Toyota Prius had fled the scene on foot.
"CHP officers searched the immediate area off the freeway and were unable to locate the driver," Andrews said. "However, they did receive information about the possible identity of the driver, but did not make contact with the driver during the early morning hours."
The San Francisco Police Department assisted in the investigation by supplying a drone to search the area for the driver, according to the San Francisco Standard. CHP logs viewed by The Standard's George Kelly showed officers spoke to a family member of the abandoned vehicle's registered owner who said the suspect admitted to hitting the person and was "scared."
Vehicle traffic on the northbound freeway was temporarily diverted while first responders conducted their investigation.
Representatives of the Medical Examiner's Office did not immediately respond by press time.
Any witnesses who may have been traveling in the area are requested to contact CHP San Francisco at 415-276-5300.
