A man was arrested on Wednesday Sept. 24 in connection with a hit-and-run that killed a woman the week before, the Redlands Police Department said.
Loren Jonathan Oajdea, 35, was identified as the driver of a white Audi seen on surveillance video striking Stephany Rose Allen, 38, as she crossed the street at Industrial Park Drive and Alabama Street shortly after midnight Wednesday, Sept. 17, police said.
Detectives located the car hidden under a makeshift tarp, at a home in the 14600 block of Golden Trail in Victorville. It had front end damage and a broken windshield consistent with the collision, they said.
Oajdea was located in Hesperia Wednesday afternoon, driving a rental car. As police and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies attempted to detain him, he fled, causing three minor collisions and leading police on a brief pursuit, according to authorities. A few minutes later, he was taken into custody, and is currently being held without bail.
Initial witness reports indicated the victim had been struck by two vehicles as they sped through a red light, but further investigation indicated that the first vehicle likely did not strike her. Neither vehicle stopped after the collision, police said.
Police are continuing to investigate to identify and locate the second vehicle and its driver.
