South Lake Tahoe teen arrested for felony hit and run

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - For the second consecutive day a person in South Lake Tahoe was the victim of a hit-and-run. Following Tuesday's collision between a SUV and a woman on a Lime scooter where the driver left the scene, a pedestrian was hit on Wednesday night, and again the driver left the scene.

At approximately 9:35 p.m. on August 5, officers from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) responded to the report of a traffic collision on Pioneer Trail near Moss Road. When officers arrived they found a 62-year-old male suffering from moderate injuries. South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue transported the victim, a local resident, to the hospital.

The driver of what was described as a red Jeep Cherokee fled the scene prior to the officers' arrival.

The victim said he and his wife were crossing Pioneer Trail from the 7-11 convenience store. As they were crossing, they observed the Jeep stop at the stop sign at the intersection of Moss Road and Pioneer Trail. For unknown reasons, the Jeep accelerated and struck the male victim, knocking him to the ground according to the report. The driver of the Jeep initially stopped, but then took off westbound on Pioneer Trail. Officers followed leads through the neighborhood and in town, but could not locate the vehicle in question.

While Tuesday's incident is still under investigation, the driver involved on Wednesday turned himself into the South Lake Tahoe Police Department.

At 5:45 a.m. Thursday, August 6, 18-year-old South Lake Tahoe resident Christofer Lopez-Ramos went to the police station to turn himself in. He admitted to being the driver but fled the scene out of fear, according to SLTPD. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the collision said SLTPD Lt. Shannon Laney.

Lopez-Ramos is currently in the El Dorado County Jail on felony hit and run charges with a $75,000 bail.

A possible suspect in Tuesday's hit and run has been identified as is cooperating with the police investigation.