ONE DEAD, 1 INJURED IN APARTMENT FIRE

One person was killed and another seriously injured in an apartment fire in National City Saturday.

The fire was reported at the complex on F Avenue near East 24th Street about 11 a.m.

National City Fire Battalion Chief Robert Hernandez said it took between 5 and 10 minutes to put the fire out, and two occupants were immediately removed from inside.

One was pronounced dead at the scene while emergency personnel transported the second to a hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries.

Hernandez said the fire was confined to the area of the apartment where it started and estimated damages at approximately $20,000.

It was not necessary to evacuate the rest of the building, he said.

The cause and circumstances were under investigation.

Man crossing street killed when hit by car

A pedestrian was struck and killed by a car while crossing a residential street in El Cajon late Friday night, police said.

Officers discovered the deceased man after responding to another crash on Anza Street near Gray Drive shortly before 10 p.m., said El Cajon police Lt. Jason Taub.

Authorities said it appeared a gray Infiniti sedan was speeding northbound when it struck a man who was crossing to enter his parked car. The pedestrian was thrown about 180 feet into a yard. The man, believed to be in his mid-20s, died at the scene. His name was not released.

The Infiniti’s driver continued on and crashed nearby into a parked van, police said. The driver, who cooperated with officers, was not suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, Taub said.

Police halt joyride on stolen forklift

A woman took a stolen forklift for a brief joyride Friday morning through the Midway District before police caught up with her and ended her adventure.

A patrolman passing through the busy commercial district just before 10:30 a.m. spotted the 39-year-old driving the construction machine along Sports Arena Boulevard and began chasing her, according to San Diego police.

After continuing on for less than a block, the woman pulled in to a parking lot outside a convenience store and surrendered, Officer Tony Martinez said.

The suspect was cited for alleged possession of stolen property and released.

The forklift had gone missing from a nearby autorepair business, where someone had left it out in the open with the ignition key in it, Martinez said.