Driver Arrested in Death of Cyclist

A 28-year-old Van Nuys man was arrested Monday as a suspect in a hit-and-run accident in which a bicycle rider was struck and killed by a pickup truck, Los Angeles police said.

Leo Melgoza, 28, was arrested after police received information from witnesses to the accident, which occurred at 10 p.m. Sunday on Roscoe Boulevard near White Oak Avenue, police said.

An unidentified man in his early 20s was riding west on Roscoe near the curb when he was struck from behind by a pickup that did not stop, Detective Dennis Ulick said. The victim was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where he died about an hour later. He carried no identification and investigators had not learned his name Monday, Ulick said.

One of three witnesses followed the truck until he got its license plate number, Ulick said. The pickup was traced to a Van Nuys address where police took five men into custody for questioning.

Police said the five provided information that led to Melgoza, who was found early Monday at another Van Nuys apartment and later confessed to being the driver when the truck hit the bike rider. The five were released after questioning, police said.

Melgoza was being held on suspicion of felony hit and run but investigators will ask prosecutors to charge him in the victim’s death, police said.