Story thread · 2 reports / 2 sources

Second arrest in hit-and-run death of Carlsbad mother of three

nbcsandiego.com · 17h · first reportShare

A second arrest was made Wednesday in the hit-and-run death of a Carlsbad mom last week. Investigators arrested Catalina Orjuela Rivera, 23, of Carlsbad, on suspicion of being an accessory to the hit-and-run after attempting to report the vehicle involved as stolen. Fernando Cruz Saldana, 26, of Escondido, is accused of hitting 45-year- old Vanessa Wheyland with his vehicle while she was crossing the intersection of Carlsbad Boulevard and Redwood Avenue on Sept. 15. Wheyland, a mother of three, was transported to a hospital, where she died. Carlsbad police said the car involved in the crash was found just over a mile away from where the victim was struck and that a combination of evidence left behind at the scene, automated license plate readers, air support and assistance from community members contributed to locating the vehicle. Along with murder, Saldana is charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI, hit-and-run and driving on a suspended license. He pleaded n