CARLSBAD — Police have arrested a woman suspected of helping the driver after a suspected DUI hit-and-run that killed Carlsbad resident Vanessa Wheyland last week.
Wheyland, 45, was crossing Carlsbad Boulevard at Redwood Avenue with her husband and 12-year-old son when she was struck by a vehicle around 7:45 p.m. on Sept. 15, as previously reported by The Coast News. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Police arrested Fernando Saldana, 26, of Escondido, after investigators used evidence from the scene, witness interviews, license plate readers and air support to locate him.
At his Sept. 18 arraignment, Saldana pleaded not guilty to murder, gross vehicular manslaughter, DUI causing injury or death, and leaving the scene of a collision resulting in injury or death. He has a prior DUI conviction.
At about 6:49 p.m. Sept. 23, investigators arrested Catalina Orjuela Rivera, 23, of Carlsbad, following a further investigation, according to the Carlsbad Police Department.
Police said Rivera assisted Saldana after the collision and attempted to report the vehicle involved as stolen. She was arrested on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact and making a false report of a crime to law enforcement.
Officers booked Rivera at the Vista Detention Facility.
The investigation remains ongoing.
