Coroner identifies pedestrian killed in Merced hit-and-run crash

The Merced County Sheriff Coroner’s Office has identified a pedestrian killed in a Merced hit-and-run collision as Jaime Sanchez, 43, of Merced, according to Deputy Daryl Allen.

According to the Merced Police Department, officers responded to the collision just before 1 a.m. Monday in the area of East Childs Avenue and Watertown Drive. A passing motorist found Sanchez lying in the roadway and alerted authorities.

Emergency Medical Services personnel attempted life saving measures and Sanchez was pronounced dead at the scene. According to police, a 22-year-old man was driving a 2004 Mercedes eastbound on East Childs Avenue when the vehicle struck Sanchez, who is believed to have been walking in the roadway.

The driver initially fled before returning a short time later and cooperated with officers. Police said neither drugs nor alcohol appear to be a factor in the collision. The driver was cited on suspicion of felony hit-and-run causing injury or death and released due to jail booking protocols, according to police.