Police: Driver intentionally struck woman with vehicle

Brittany Kirkwood, 26, of Coatesville was charged with criminal attempted murder.

CALN >> A Coatesville woman was charged with attempted murder after police said she intentionally struck with her vehicle and severely injured a woman she knew during a verbal dispute Saturday morning.

Brittany Kirkwood, 26, of Coatesville was charged with criminal attempted murder, criminal attempt homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by motor vehicle, accidents involving death or injury, recklessly endangering another person and related charges.

Police were dispatched to the Wawa parking lot at 3025 Lincoln Highway in Thorndale Saturday at 6:33 a.m. for the report that a pedestrian had been hit be a vehicle. When police arrived, the vehicle, a white SUV, had already fled the scene.

Police found Deshona Stokes, 41, of Coatesville on the ground with numerous injuries. Police called for an ambulance and Stokes was transported to Paoli Hospital Trauma Center.

Through investigation, police determined the suspect was Kirkwood. Stokes and Kirkwood knew each other prior to the attempted murder, police said. They had been engaged in a verbal altercation in the Wawa store, and it continued into the parking lot.

The investigation determined that following the verbal dispute, Kirkwood intentionally drove her vehicle toward Stokes and struck her, police said.

Kirkwood was arrested by police at her residence in Coatesville. She was transported to Chester County Prison and is awaiting arraignment on the charges.

Stokes remains hospitalized in Paoli Hospital and is listed in stable condition.