Oakland man arrested in fatal Berkeley hit-and-run

Nickolaus Messina, 66, of Oakland, has been arrested following a fatal hit-and-run in the Elmwood District of Berkeley, California. The incident occurred around 6:38 p.m. on November 3 at the intersection of Ashby Avenue and Regent Street.

According to Berkeley police, a 64-year-old woman was walking when she was struck by a westbound silver Kia Soul. The driver allegedly fled the scene immediately after the collision. The pedestrian was transported to Highland Hospital in Oakland, where she later died from her injuries.

A witness provided investigators with the vehicle’s license plate number, which allowed police to track the car using an automated license plate reader network. Officers located and stopped the vehicle near the Interstate 580 and Interstate 80 split as it headed toward San Rafael.

Messina was booked into Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, felony hit-and-run causing death, and driving under the influence. His bail was set at $380,000, with an arraignment scheduled for November 6.