Teenage girl arrested in alleged Carlsbad hit-and-run; Victim’s name released

CARLSBAD (CNS) – Authorities Thursday released the name of a 20-year-old
Carlsbad skateboarder whose alleged killer is a 17-year-old girl suspected of
driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Vincent Edward Zellefrow, Jr. was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver
in the 6000 block of Carlsbad Boulevard shortly before 11 p.m. Wednesday,
according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office. He suffered blunt
impact injuries to his head and was pronounced dead at 11:14 p.m., the M.E.'s
Office reported on its website.

Carlsbad police said witnesses described seeing a silver Chrysler sedan
speed off southbound after the accident. The vehicle was found a short time
later at 6550 Ponto Drive, Carlsbad police Lt. Pete Pascual said, noting a 17-
year-old girl suspected of driving the car was also found at the location.

She was arrested and booked into the Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention
Facility on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, felony DUI, and felony hit-and-
run, Pascual said. Her name was withheld because she is a minor.

Zellefrow was a 2012 graduate of Carlsbad High School and was attending
MiraCosta College, working toward transferring to UC Berkeley, with aspirations
to become a music teacher, according to U-T San Diego.

“He was funny, he was sweet,” his mother, Belinda Zellefrow, told the
newspaper. “He lived life to the fullest. He was involved in everything. He
had friends everywhere.”

She said at the time of the accident, her son was skating with friends
who saw the oncoming car and warned Zellefrow to get out of the way.

“He did (move over) as far as he could, past the shoulder,” she said.
“And the person that hit him scooted over with him and hit him and left.”