More than a year after a deadly hit-and-run near San Diego International Airport, police have taken a suspect into custody, bringing long-awaited progress to the case.
Authorities confirmed the arrest of 58-year-old William John Christian, a resident of the Mission Hills area in San Diego.
He was apprehended Thursday morning in connection with a fatal crash that claimed the life of a pedestrian in March 2024.
According to the San Diego Police Department, Christian was located and arrested in the 3400 block of Pringle Street.
The arrest marks the end of a 13-month search for the individual believed to have been behind the wheel during the early-morning collision.
Police say he was driving a white 2017 Dodge Challenger at the time of the incident. Christian is now being held at San Diego Central Jail with bail set at $100,000.
His arraignment is scheduled for Monday afternoon.
The tragic accident occurred around 5 a.m. on March 6, 2024, in the 2100 block of Hancock Street. A 69-year-old unhoused man was struck while walking in the area.
The driver immediately fled the scene, leaving behind little evidence. Emergency responders transported the victim to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Despite an extensive investigation, the victim’s name has not yet been released to the public.
The San Diego Police Department, led by Sgt. Victoria Houseman in this case, spent over a year searching for both the suspect and the vehicle involved.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage, analyzed evidence, and followed multiple leads before finally identifying Christian as the primary suspect. His arrest provides some closure to a case that had gone cold for months.
As the legal process unfolds, more details may emerge regarding what led to the crash and the suspect’s decision to flee. For now, authorities and community members alike are hopeful that justice will be served for the man whose life was tragically cut short.