Police seek SUV driver suspected in Ocean Beach fatal hit and run

Police sought public help Tuesday to identify a suspected hit-and-run driver whose SUV ran over and killed a 60-year-old man who was lying in an Ocean Beach alley.

San Diego resident Frank Thomas Neal had fallen just after 11 p.m. Friday and was lying on the pavement in the north alley off Niagara Avenue and Sunset Cliffs Boulevard when the SUV ran him over, according to San Diego police traffic Sgt. Victoria Houseman.

“The driver did not stop to check on the victim or call for help and fled the scene immediately,” Houseman said in a news release, adding the SUV was heading east in the alley.

Someone found Neal injured just before 11:30 p.m. Friday and called for help, police said. When officers arrived, he was unresponsive and a citizen was doing CPR.

Paramedics took over, but Neal was pronounced dead at the scene minutes later, police said.

The involved vehicle, images of which were captured by a surveillance video camera, is believed to be an early 2000s-model Chevrolet Suburban or GMC Yukon with a sunroof, a raised suspension, shiny silver rims and side molding.

Investigators think it sustained no damage from striking the victim, police said.

Anyone with information about Neal’s death or the involved SUV was asked to call the San Diego police traffic investigations unit (858) 495-7800 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers’ anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477. Anonymous tipsters can also contact the agency online at sdcrimestoppers.org, and anyone providing information that leads to an arrest could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

City News Service contributed to this report.