A 45-year-old Carlsbad mother of three, Vanessa Wheyland, was struck and killed by a vehicle while walking near Redwood Avenue and Carlsbad Boulevard on Tuesday night, September 15, 2026, according to police. Officers and paramedics responded to the 3800 block of Carlsbad Boulevard around 7:46 p.m. after reports of a vehicle-versus-pedestrian collision, but the driver had already fled the scene. Wheyland was taken to a hospital, where she later died from her injuries. Investigators used physical evidence from the scene, automated license plate readers and tips from the community to identify a suspect.
According to 10News.com, Carlsbad police located the suspected driver, 26-year-old Fernando Saldana of Escondido, about a mile from the crash site with help from San Diego police and sheriff’s air support. Saldana, who allegedly has a prior DUI conviction, was arrested on suspicion of murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI causing injury or death, and leaving the scene of a fatal collision. He was booked into the Vista Detention Facility, and NBC 7 San Diego reported he is scheduled to appear before a judge on Friday. Police say alcohol is suspected as a contributing factor, and the investigation remains active.
