Anaheim Man Arrested in Hit-and-Run Death of Newport Doctor

An Anaheim man was arrested early today in connection with the fatal hit-and-run that claimed the life of a Newport Beach doctor, a police official reported.

Michael Jason Lopez, 39, was arrested at about 2 a.m. on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, according to Kathy Lowe, police spokeswoman. He was taken into custody in Anaheim along with the black pickup truck police believe to be involved in Saturday's fatal collision that killed Catherine "Kit" Campion-Ritz.

Lopez was booked at the Newport Beach Police Jail and is being held on $100,000 bail.

Campion-Ritz, 57, of Irvine, was a Newport Beach doctor for nearly 30 years. On Saturday at about 9:45 a.m. she was riding northbound on Newport Coast Drive between Ocean Vista Drive and Vista Ridge Drive when she was struck from behind by a pickup truck. The driver of the truck fled the scene.  Campion-Ritz was transported in critical condition to Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center in Mission Viejo, where she was pronounced dead at 1:40 p.m. from injuries she suffered in the accident.

"Newport Beach Police Department personnel, with assistance from other Orange County law enforcement agencies, worked tirelessly since the incident occurred to bring the suspect into custody," Lowe said. "They will continue these efforts throughout the investigation to insure justice will be served."

The death of Campion-Ritz was the second bicyclist fatality in Newport Beach over the weekend. Resident Sarah Leaf, 29, was killed Friday at about 10:40 a.m. when she was hit by a truck on Pacific Coast Highway and Bayside Drive. No arrests or citations have been made in connection with Leaf's death.