Man Accused In Encinitas Hit-And-Run Pleads Not Guilty

VISTA, Calif. — A 40-year-old man accused of driving away after striking a pedestrian who darted into his path in Encinitas pleaded not guilty Tuesday to hit-and-run causing death and driving on a suspended license.Vista Superior Court Judge Adrienne Orfield ordered Anthony Donnell Bruce to remain in custody in lieu of $80,000 bail.Bruce was arrested in Bonsall about four hours after the Nov. 21 accident on Coast Highway at La Costa Avenue.
Deputy District Attorney Mara Allard said Michael Everett Jones Sr., a 54-year-old transient, “did dart out in front of the vehicle” driven by the defendant at night. Bruce might not have been charged with a crime if he had stopped, but he instead made considerable efforts to evade authorities, Allard said.”The crime was just leaving the scene,” the prosecutor said.Witnesses jotted down the vehicle’s license number and description and gave the information to investigators, who tracked down the defendant.Investigators are still looking into whether alcohol was a factor in the crash, Allard said.The judge scheduled a readiness conference for Dec. 8.