Woman arrested in fatal Nipomo hit-and-run
November 15, 2012
Marie M. Coyner
California Highway Patrol officers tracked down the alleged driver of a Toyota Prius who crashed into and killed a man walking on the shoulder of a Nipomo road. [SLO Tribune]
Officers arrested Marie M. Coyner, 23, Tuesday evening on suspicion of felony hit-and-run and vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.
Vehicle parts at the scene of the body of 24-year-ol Christopher Tietjen led investigators to Coyner’s 2007 green Toyota Prius. Officers said that the Prius drove off the side of the road, striking and killing Tietjen who was walking on the shoulder of North Thompson Road near Sheehy Road. They did not know the speed of the vehicle, however, and are still investigating the possibility of drug or alcohol impairment.
CHP officers initially believed that the collision took place sometime between dusk Sunday and 11:30 a.m. Monday, but evidence indicated that the car may have collided with Tietjen prior to that time period. Officers found Tietjen’s body Monday afternoon partially hidden by grass and brush.
Coyner has no previous criminal history in San Luis Obispo County.
Tietjen had arrests for suspicious behavior around children, which included playing on a playground with kids ages one to five.
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