A Bakersfield man wanted for an injury hit and run accident has turned himself in. Frank Carrillo says he hit a woman last month, stopped, took her to the hospital and left. But, he didn't know he had done anything wrong. That changed when he saw himself on surveillance video Wednesday night.
Carrillo said he's thought about the night he hit the woman every day since the crash, and he says he's called the hospital several times to see how she's doing, but he never thought to call police.
"I hope she can forgive me for any pain I put her through," said Carrillo.
Carrillo says he hit the woman on Pioneer Drive, the night of February 18th. He was in his SUV and she was walking home from the store.
"I can't believe it. I mean, I got ran over," said Stephanie Tweedy.
Stephanie Tweedy told us Wednesday night, she's going to be okay, but would like the driver that hit her to pay her hospital bill that's more than $3,600. It was the same time the California Highway Patrol released surveillance video showing the man they wanted for hitting Tweedy and running. He's seen wheeling her into San Joaquin Community Hospital. Carrillo recognized himself in the video and turned himself in.
"So, the first thing I did is call my boss this morning, rushed over to the CHP and said 'Hey, I'm here to talk to you guys. I have nothing to hide," said Carrillo.
Carrillo says he didn't see Tweedy, but stopped immediately once he hit her, and his cell phone was broken.
"I recall that her cell phone, she only had enough juice in her cell phone left to call her mom and that's the only person she wanted to get in contact with," said Carrillo.
While she called, Carrillo says he drove her to the hospital, wheeled her in, left to move his car from the ambulance area and returned with his information, but Tweedy was gone. He didn't have her name and hospital rules were enforced.
"I had asked her where did this lady go. She said I can't give you any information, she's being admitted. That's all she told me, but I can't give you more information besides that. You're not a family member. No, I'm not a relative. I'm not a family member. I'm the one that hit her," said Carrillo.
Carrillo says after 45 minutes of waiting without answers from hospital staff, he left.
"I guess he stayed there for a while because that's what they said," said Tweedy. "Nobody got his name or anything."
"Like, there ain't no handbook for anything like this. What do you do?," said Carrillo.
California law states a driver must leave their contact information after a crash and it must be reported within 24 hours, or it's technically a hit and run.
"Every day I'm thinking about her and I just feel bad. It wasn't my intention to hurt her whatsoever," said Carrillo.
The Kern County District Attorney's office can't comment on possible charges until it gets the case from the CHP, which is still investigating.
Carrillo says he's already contacted his insurance company to fully pay for Tweedy's medical bills. Tweedy says she has no desire to pursue charges against Carrillo.
