70-Year-Old North Bay Woman Severely Injured in Hit-and-Run

NORTH BAY, CA -- Petaluma police are asking for the public's help in identifying a suspect after a 70-year-old woman was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries when she was struck and thrown 50 feet by a hit-and-run driver.

Just before 7:30 pm on Saturday, Feb. 11, the Petaluma Police Dept. received a report of a female being hit by a van in the intersection of South McDowell Boulevard and Caulfield Lane. Officers arriving on scene located a 70-year-old female lying in the northbound lane of South McDowell Boulevard, over 50 feet north of the north crosswalk of the intersection.

The woman was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with what was believed to be potential life-threatening injuries.

Witnesses said they saw the lady crossing from the northwest corner to the northeast corner of the intersection across South McDowell Boulevard, and that she was in the northbound lane of South McDowell Boulevard and appeared to be crossing the street against a red signal when she was struck by a van traveling northbound on South McDowell Boulevard.

Witnesses said she appeared to be thrown about 50 feet by the impact. The van initially stopped after striking the pedestrian then quickly took off turning right onto a road off of South McDowell Boulevard. At this time it is unknown if alcohol or speed was a factor in this collision, and no description of the vehicle or driver have been released.

The Petaluma Police Department's Traffic Unit is investigating this collision. If anyone has any information regarding this incident please contact Sgt. Ron Klein at (707) 778-4596.

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