Driver in Victorville fatal hit-and-run was texting at time of crash

San Bernardino Sheriff’s deputies on Thursday arrested an Apple Valley hit-and-run driver who struck a pedestrian because she was sending a text message, sheriff’s officials said.

Jennifer Sweeney, 28, was booked into jail on suspicion of manslaughter.

San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies had been searching for the driver since March 20 when they found a body on Palmdale Road near San Mateo Road.

Several motorists pulled over after accidentally running over the body. Deputies determined the victim had been struck by another motorist who was no longer at the scene.

A passenger who was riding in Sweeney’s car later came forward and told deputies about the crash. Deputies discovered that Sweeney was sending a cell phone text message and didn’t see the pedestrian.

Deputies arrested the woman at her home in the 22700 block of Shawnee Road and booked her into the West Valley Detention Center. They also cited two of her roommates on suspicion of possessing drug paraphernalia.

By Melissa Pinion-Whitt