BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — An 11-year-old girl was struck and critically injured by an alleged hit-and-run driver Saturday night as she was crossing a street with her mother and sibling in northwest Bakersfield, according to police.
Bakersfield police said the vehicle and driver suspected in the collision were located in a nearby neighborhood. The alleged driver was arrested and identified by police as Dhanjibhai Patel, 79.
Emergency crews were called to Brimhall Road near Jewetta Avenue just after 8:45 p.m. for a pedestrian collision. According to police, the 11-year-old girl was struck, suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
According to police, the girl, her mother and 4-year-old sibling were crossing Brimhall Road outside a crosswalk when the 11-year-old was struck.
A suspect vehicle was described as a small black SUV with front-end damage seen heading westbound on Brimhall Road following the collision. In a statement, officials said the vehicle and Patel were found near Brimhall and Old Farm roads about a half-hour later. Patel was later arrested for felony hit-and-run, according to a police statement.
Police said neither drugs, alcohol or speed appeared to be factors in the collision. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information on the collision is asked to call Bakersfield police at 661-327-7111.
