MALIBU—A 21-year-old female pedestrian was killed in a fatal hit-and-run along the Pacific Coast Highway, just east of Zuma View Place, on Tuesday, March 10. The collision caused both PCH westbound lanes near Ramirez Canyon to close between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. while the crash was investigated.

Sergeant Philip Brooks of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department told Canyon News, “At 5:35 a.m., we received a report of a hit-and-run collision near Ramirez Canyon.”

He added that the victim, identified as Melanie Quinonez of Van Nuys, had been driving her car, which was carrying three passengers, shortly before the crash. Quinonez, who had just turned 21,  was struck when she pulled over on the north shoulder of the highway and exited the vehicle to stretch her legs.

“The victim was pronounced dead at the scene,” according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

After receiving the suspected car’s description, Sgt. Brooks said that sheriff deputies were dispatched to the intersection of Agoura and Kanan Roads in the hopes that the suspect would travel towards them.

The shrewd decision paid off. The suspect drove through the trap and was arrested for vehicular manslaughter.

The suspect, Pablo Carranza, a 25 year-old male, was booked at Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station and is being held in lieu of a $50,000 bail.

The City of Malibu is policed by the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.  The traffic collision is being investigated by traffic investigators from the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff Station.  The investigators ask that anyone with information regarding this traffic collision, please contact Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff Station at (818) 878-1808.