UPDATE, 11/25: News Channel 3 reports that the victim is 29-year-old Blain Allen Kesselring of Eureka.
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California Highway Patrol press release:
On 11/24/13 at approximately 0319 hours, a male pedestrian was walking southbound in the northbound #2 lane of US-101, north of Sunset Ave. Gaurav Mehta was driving his 2011 Toyota Tundra northbound on US-101 in the #2 lane at approximately 60 MPH when he struck the pedestrian causing fatal injuries. Mehta fled the scene in the Toyota however due to damage from the collision, his vehicle became disabled on US-101 north of SR-299. Mehta abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot. CHP personnel conducted a search of the area adjacent to US-101 in the West End Road area of Arcata. Mehta was located at a nearby hotel and was ultimately placed under arrest for 20001 VC (felony hit and run) and 23152(a)VC (DUI) then booked into the Humboldt County Jail.
Emergency personnel from the California Highway Patrol, Arcata Ambulance, and Arcata Fire District responded to the scene. Additionally, Caltrans personnel responded to the scene and provided traffic control. US-101 northbound remained open during the on-scene collision investigation. The cause of this collision is still under investigation.