Driver who fatally hit Salem toddler arrested

SALEM, Ore. -  A 2-year-old girl was killed by a hit-and-run driver in the parking lot of an apartment complex Tuesday evening. An arrest in the case was made late Tuesday night.

After looking for a white, four-door Ford pickup truck, police said they found it at the 2100 block of Maple Avenue Northeast in Salem.

Shortly thereafter, police arrested Juan Lopez-Perez, 31, for felony hit and run. Lopez-Perez is a Salem resident and is a neighbor of the girl according to police.

Lopez-Perez made his first court appearance Wednesday and the Marion County District attorney alleged that Lopez-Perez knew he hit the girl and tried to hide his truck.

Police said the incident took place at the Stone Ridge Apartments at 3876 Sunnyview Road Northeast in Salem.

According to police, the girl - Erika Meza - was walking with her 12-year-old sister through the parking lot when the incident happened just before 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The district attorney’s office said Lopez-Perez told witnesses he knew he’d struck and killed Erika and that he tried to hide his truck and attempted to leave when police found him on Maple Avenue.

Neighbors said they often saw the toddler playing around the community and said they are struggling to understand how someone could hit her and then drive away.

“It’s kind of sad,” said Norma Jimenez who said she knew the girl. “I’m pretty sad. I feel bad for her because she was so cute. I mean, how can something like this happen to a little 2-year-old girl?”

Neighbors said the little girl’s mother is a single mom. She passed by a makeshift memorial Wednesday for her daughter that neighbors described as a happy little girl.

“This little girl would run all the time and she’d come in when our door was open during the summertime, and I won’t be able to see that anymore,” said Steve Weathermon.

Neighbors said they have been conducting prayer services near where it happened. They said they expect to continue those gatherings through the next week.