Bail denied for suspect in fatal Christmas hit-and-run

A judge Thursday denied bail to the alleged driver in a Christmas night hit-and-run that left a pedestrian dead in a south Sacramento intersection and prosecutors said more charges could be in store in the fatal collision.

Jataj Zuniga, 20, was arraigned in Sacramento Superior Court on suspicion of felony hit-and-run causing serious injury or death. He will return to court Wednesday.

Prosecutors anticipate additional charges will be filed in the deadly incident in asking bail to be set at $250,000. But Judge Michael Sweet decided instead to have Zuniga held without bail.

Sacramento police were called to the scene near the intersection of Florin Road and Freeport Boulevard about 9 p.m. Monday to find the person unresponsive in the roadway. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene and police later arrested Zuniga in a vehicle that officers said tied him to the death.

This story was originally published December 28, 2017 at 3:51 PM.