Suspect is arrested in October hit-and-run crash

SANTA CLARA >> A suspect has been arrested in connection with a hit-and-run crash in Santa Clara in October that left a 42-year- old woman with life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

The victim was walking across Pruneridge Avenue, west of Kiely Boulevard, just before 7 p.m. on Oct. 17 when she was struck by a light- colored SUV, according to the Santa Clara Police Department. Her family and several bystanders witnessed the crash. The suspect vehicle was also captured on a passing vehicle’s dashboard camera.

Police said the victim was taken to a hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery.

Investigators determined the suspect vehicle was a silver 2000-2002 Toyota RAV4 with a partial license plate number of “57.”

“Working with information from the Department of Motor Vehicles, (investigators) combed through data from thousands of potential license plates until they found the vehicle believed to have fled the scene,” police said in a news release.

On Dec. 16, investigators contacted the owner of the suspect vehicle. Police said he also matched the description of the driver.

The owner said he sold the Toyota prior to the crash. The vehicle was found near an auto body shop, and while major repairs had already been done, there was still evidence it had been involved in a collision, police said. A witness also picked the owner out of a photo lineup.

On Dec. 22, the suspect was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County jail on a charge of felony hit-and-run.

Police said the victim is recovering from her injuries.

Anyone with information about the crash can contact Traffic Investigator Nick Cusimano at 408- 615- 4764.