A witness followed an accused hit-and-run driver early Saturday after a woman was struck and killed in National City, leading to his arrest.
The suspect, Jamal Dekwon Lee, 27, faces DUI, felony hit-and-run and gross vehicular manslaughter charges, according to National City police.
The female pedestrian, 53, was jay-walking across Plaza Boulevard east of Palm Avenue, when she was struck by a dark sedan after 2 a.m., OnScene.TV reported.
The suspect allegedly fled at high speed, almost crashing into a witness, who followed a Chrysler 200 with heavy front-end damage to an apartment building at 19th Street and F Avenue. The witness summoned police after seeing the suspect park the car and enter a residence.
After officers found the car, the suspect left the apartment and surrendered, according to OnScene.TV, which said that the man admitted to driving under the influence, hitting the pedestrian and fleeing.
Meanwhile, medics arrived to find the victim’s boyfriend performing CPR on her, and took over but it was too late. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities closed Plaza Boulevard in both directions from Interstate 805 to Palm during the investigation.
Lee is being held at San Diego Central Jail on $100,000 bail. He is set to be arraigned Wednesday.
City News Service contributed to this report.
Updated 3:05 p.m. March 8, 2025
