The victim’s family identified her as Ruizhi You, 70, who had recently come from China to visit her son.
CHULA VISTA, Calif. — Detectives arrested 46-year-old Monica Armenta just after 5 p.m. Tuesday on suspicion of felony hit-and-run and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter in a crash that killed a 70-year-old pedestrian Sunday evening near North Greensview Drive and Park Meadows Road, police said.
Investigators said they began with only a rough vehicle description and a direction of travel after callers reported a woman struck around 5:30 p.m. Sunday. The Traffic Bureau pulled time-matched data from automated license plate readers and canvassed nearby homes for camera footage. Those steps led officers to a Chula Vista address connected to a vehicle of interest, where Armenta was detained and later booked into the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility. The case file is being prepared for prosecutors to review for formal charges. The police department said it expects to release additional details after evidence processing and interviews are complete.
The victim, identified by family members as Ruizhi You, was transported from the scene and pronounced dead at a hospital shortly afterward. Her son, Tong Zhu, said she arrived in November to spend time with him as he transitioned out of Navy service. “She liked evening walks,” Zhu said, adding that the visit was meant to be a quiet, extended stay. Police later described You as a 70-year-old Chula Vista resident in department records. First responders attempted lifesaving measures on the block before medics took her to the hospital.
Neighbors said dusk is a regular walking hour along North Greensview Drive, a corridor lined with low-speed residential streets and narrow corners that can hide oncoming cars. Residents told officers they heard a thud followed by the sound of a car accelerating. Several homes in the area use security cameras, which detectives revisited Monday and Tuesday to collect additional clips. Officials have not said whether speed or impairment are factors. Damage pattern, skid marks and onboard vehicle data, if available, will inform the reconstruction.
Automated license plate readers, which log plate numbers as vehicles pass fixed cameras, have been adopted by cities across San Diego County for auto theft and violent-crime investigations. In Sunday’s case, police said Flock Safety devices flagged potential matches leaving the neighborhood after the collision. Investigators cross-checked those hits against registration records and routes that fit the timeline. While the system provided leads, detectives still relied on witness statements, physical evidence and interviews before booking a suspect. The department did not release the make and model of the vehicle seized.
If the District Attorney files charges, Armenta would be scheduled for an arraignment at the South Bay courthouse in the coming days. A judge would set bail and conditions, and prosecutors could outline the evidence, including any video or forensic findings, during the first appearance. The Medical Examiner will finalize cause of death findings that are typically included in charging documents. Police said they plan additional scene work this week and will continue to review newly submitted videos.
Residents left candles and flowers near the corner on Tuesday night. “It’s a tight-knit area,” said neighbor Daniel Ortiz, who walks the block with his dog most evenings. “Seeing a memorial go up on our street is heartbreaking.” A delivery worker who passed through around the time of the crash told officers the street lighting is patchy and some cars move quickly across the intersection. Another neighbor said officers returned Tuesday afternoon to confirm the time stamps on her camera system matched the patrol logs.
As of late Tuesday, police described the investigation as active and ongoing. No court hearing time had been announced. Detectives said they will share updates after the charging decision and evidence review are complete.
Author note: Last updated January 14, 2026.