Investigators are looking for a driver who they believe intentionally ran down a man in Lemon Grove early Monday morning.
Deputies responding to a report that a person had been struck by a vehicle at about 2:15 a.m. arrived to find the 44-year-old victim lying in the roadway in the 8300 block of Broadway, badly injured but conscious, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
Paramedics took the man to the hospital, where he died.
Investigators are calling the incident a homicide and not a hit-and-run because of what transpired just before the collision.
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"Witnesses reported the (victim had been) standing in the roadway in front of an unknown vehicle, speaking with the occupants of the vehicle," sheriff's Lt. Michael Krugh said. "A few seconds later, the (driver) accelerated, intentionally struck the male (with the vehicle) and fled from the area. Sheriff's homicide investigators are working to gather more information to determine the circumstances and motivation behind this death."
Although police have not yet released the victim's identity, NBC 7 has identified him as Brian Colvin through his family. Colvin's mother, Darlene, says the family was notified of Colvin's death on Monday evening.
No description of the driver was available as of late Monday morning. However, Colvin's friend, Tommy Rodger, says he witnessed the incident and described the pickup that hit Colvin as a newer model Dodge.
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“He got hit, and that forced him into the center of the vehicle, and that’s when he went underneath. I saw and heard the whole thing," Rodger said.
Colvin's mother says he worked in construction, is the father of a college-age son and was once the husband of current National City Council candidate Randi Castle-Salgado. According to his mother, the couple divorced 10 years ago and fell out of touch.
Family members say after losing the battle over drugs and alcohol, Colvin became homeless. He lived in his truck off Broadway.
"Brian was a fantastic man. He would always be there if you needed him," Jamie Gilbert, Colvin's friend, said.
Gilbert and Uvaldo Javier Morales knew Colvin well.
"He was my best friend and my family. I wish he would be here," Morales said.
Investigators are asking for the public’s help in identifying the person responsible. You can leave anonymous tips by calling Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
