California

Teen Jogger Killed in Chula Vista Hit-and-Run: CVPD

The driver turned himself in Monday afternoon and gave investigators the location of his truck.

A teen just months away from her freshman year of college was jogging in Chula Vista Sunday when she was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver, police said.

The incident happened around 8:15 p.m. on Lane Avenue near Scobee Park, Chula Vista Police said. The area is north of Otay Lakes Road and east of State Route 125.

The southbound vehicle apparently lost control, jumped the sidewalk and hit 17-year-old Leilani Magno from behind before fleeing the scene, according to police.

Magno was taken to Mercy Hospital where she later died from her injuries. Her family said she was weeks away from turning 18 and would have attended the University of California, Irvine in September.

"Her goal at UCI was to major in Biological Sciences and head into the medical field. Leilani was part of Track and Field and Cross Country during her years at Eastlake High School and continued to enjoy running after graduating high school," Magno's family said in a statement.

The statement also said Magno was "very loved" and will leave a "devastated community behind." Countless bouquets and cards were left at the site of the crash Monday.

An online fundraising page has been set up to help Magno's family.

Chula Vista Police Department Captain Phil Collum said the driver turned himself in Monday afternoon and gave investigators the location of his truck.

He was identified as George Espinosa Jr., 47, of Chula Vista.

Espinosa was arrested and charged with felony hit and run and was booked into county jail, according to Collum.

"This case is particularly unique in that the person was just jogging," Collum said. "And jogging on the sidewalk, at that. I'm sure none of us would expect any kind of collision like this any day, much less when you're jogging off the side of the road on the sidewalk where pedestrians should be."

Anyone with information can contact CVPD by calling (619) 422-TIPS.

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