A jogger was hit and killed early Thursday by a high-speed driver who may have been racing another vehicle on foggy Point Loma streets, San Diego police said.
Witnesses told police a black BMW appeared to be street racing with a white Ford Mustang around 5 a.m. southbound on Nimitz Blvd. A pedestrian began to cross Nimitz Boulevard against a red light and was struck by the BMW, SDPD officer David O'Brien said.
The BWM fled the scene but was later located unoccupied at 3500 Canon Street.
Police are searching for the driver of the Mustang as well as the driver of the BMW suspected of striking the pedestrian. Department of Defense personnel were assisting with the search in the military base-adjacent neighborhood.
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"We believe this may have a street racing nexus," SDPD Officer Michael Denigan said. "Two vehicles, both modified sports cars, traveling at a high rate of speed."
The pedestrian, who was identified as being between 20 to 30 years old, was pronounced dead at the scene, SDPD said.
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"This area there is a lot of pedestrian and bicycle traffic even early in the morning as we all know Point Loma and Ocean Beach, it's a very athletic part of town," Denigan said.
As part of their ongoing investigation, San Diego police are looking into the sightline a pedestrian and a driver would have from various distances. Investigators are also reviewing surveillance video that they believe captured the moments before and after the deadly crash.
Southbound Nimitz Boulevard was closed for several hours early Thursday from Chatsworth Boulevard and Interstate 8 at Sunset Cliffs Boulevard.
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