SANTA ANA, Calif.—An 18-year-old woman was behind bars Oct. 19 on suspicion of a hit-and-run accident that seriously injured a 12-year-old girl walking to school Wednesday in Santa Ana.
Madeline Ortiz, who turned 18 on Sept. 23, was being held on $50,000 bail. She was arrested just before 9 p.m. Oct. 18 as police served a search warrant at her residence in Santa Ana, Santa Ana police Officer Natalie Garcia said. She was booked on suspicion of felony hit and run, Ms. Garcia said.
The girl was struck at about 8:10 a.m. Wednesday at Newhope Street and McFadden Avenue as she was walking to Fitz Intermediate Language Academy, Ms. Garcia said. She was walking outside of a crosswalk on McFadden just east of Newhope, Ms. Garcia said.
The girl was taken to a hospital in critical condition and underwent surgery, the officer added. But she is recovering now, Ms. Garcia said.
“Fortunately the girl is in stable condition,” Garcia said. “Doctors say she is not facing life-threatening injuries at this point, but she will have a long, long recovery.”
Police obtained a Ring doorbell photo of the suspect’s vehicle, which is a blue, newer-model Honda that is lowered and has black-tinted windows, black rims and a black bumper, Ms. Garcia said. Police impounded the suspect car Wednesday night, Ms. Garcia said.
The car sustained damage to the front windshield.
