Police in Manchester, New Hampshire, have arrested a woman in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred in the parking lot of a Taco Bell restaurant last week.
Authorities said 27-year-old Maria Camila Posada Canizales, of Manchester, surrendered herself to police on Monday after a warrant for her arrest had been issued days earlier. She is now facing a felony charge of conduct after an accident.
The incident happened around 6:40 p.m. on September 17 at the Taco Bell located at 1050 Second Street. Officers responding to a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle arrived to find 60-year-old Juliana Harbeck, of Rindge, suffering from severe injuries consistent with being hit, local ABC affiliate WMUR.
Emergency crews transported Harbeck by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where she died the following day. Police said the vehicle involved had already left the scene by the time they arrived, prompting a search that ultimately led investigators to identify Canizales as the suspect.
The details of how authorities connected her to the incident have not yet been released, but officials confirmed that an arrest warrant was secured before she turned herself in. Canizales was booked and held in custody pending her first court appearance, which was scheduled for Tuesday. The felony charge she faces carries significant potential prison time if she is convicted.
Manchester police have not disclosed whether additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues. Officials are also working to determine the exact circumstances leading up to the collision, including whether speed, impairment, or distraction may have played a role.
The crash and its aftermath have drawn attention in the community, with residents expressing shock that a routine evening in a restaurant parking lot ended in tragedy. Friends of Harbeck described her as a kind and giving woman, known for her devotion to family and her active presence in her hometown of Rindge.
The Taco Bell location has remained open since the incident, though employees have said the atmosphere has been somber in the wake of the crash. Police continue to ask anyone who may have witnessed the collision or its aftermath to contact investigators.
They emphasized that even small details could prove important in building a clearer picture of what happened on the evening of September 17. As the case moves forward, Canizales is expected to enter a plea and face further proceedings in court while Harbeck’s family mourns the sudden and devastating loss of a loved one.