Woman in critical condition after early morning hit-and-run

Police are asking for the public's help to find the driver of a vehicle that fled after striking a pedestrian early this morning in Santa Cruz, leaving her with critical injuries.

Around 1:55 a.m. officers responded to a report of a crash involving a pedestrian on southbound state Highway 1, between River and Mission streets, according to police.

The victim, a 20-year-old University of California at Santa Cruz student, was crossing Highway 1 and was not in the crosswalk when a vehicle struck her.

The vehicle then fled without stopping, police said.

The victim had been walking home from a Halloween party on River Street with friends. She was taken to a hospital and remains in critical condition this morning, according to police.

The vehicle was described as a 2010 or 2011 silver colored Honda CRV and may have bumper damage on the passenger's side.

Anyone with information about the vehicle is asked to contact Santa Cruz police at (831) 420-5820.