A 64-year-old woman lost her life Tuesday evening after she was struck by a vehicle whose driver allegedly fled the scene in Berkeley, California. The driver, identified as 66-year-old Nickolaus Messina of Oakland, was later arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, gross vehicular manslaughter and felony hit-and-run causing death.
The fatal collision happened around 6:38 p.m. November 3, at the intersection of Ashby Avenue and Regent Street. According to the Berkeley Police Department, officers received reports that a westbound vehicle had struck a pedestrian before leaving the scene without stopping.
Emergency crews arrived and found the woman suffering from serious injuries. She was taken to a local trauma center for treatment, but doctors were unable to save her. She later died from her injuries. Authorities had not released her name as of the latest police update.
While the woman was being treated, investigators began working to identify the driver responsible for the crash. A witness provided an important lead after spotting a silver Kia Soul a few blocks from the collision scene. The witness gave police the vehicle’s license plate number, giving investigators a way to track it.
Officers entered the information into the department’s automated license plate reader system. At approximately 9:02 p.m., the system generated an alert showing that the Kia had entered Interstate 80 through the Gilman Street onramp. Police quickly moved to locate the vehicle.
Officers eventually spotted the Kia traveling toward San Rafael, just beyond the Interstate 580 and Interstate 80 split. They pulled the vehicle over and detained the driver, later identified as Messina. Police arrested him following their investigation into the fatal collision.
Messina faces allegations including driving under the influence, driving with a blood alcohol concentration of at least 0.08%, driving under the influence causing injury and gross vehicular manslaughter. He was also arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run causing injury. These are allegations, and the criminal case will determine his responsibility.
Berkeley police credited the witness for providing the license plate information that helped officers identify and locate the vehicle. Investigators also said the automated camera alert helped them find the driver within hours of the crash, allowing officers to examine possible impairment closer to the time of the collision.
For the woman’s family, the evening ended with a loss that cannot be undone. Her identity had not yet been made public, and police expressed sympathy for her loved ones as the investigation continued.