San Diego

Woman Arrested in El Cajon Hit-and-Run that Injured Boy, 9

The woman was driving on a suspended license from a prior DUI, according to DMV records

After receiving a tip, El Cajon police on Thursday night arrested the woman who allegedly fled after hitting a boy riding a bicycle on his way to school that morning.

When officers arrived at the woman's home in Lakeside around 9 p.m., they found the blue Honda Fit that was involved in the hit-and-run that injured a 9-year-old, El Cajon police Lt. Stephen Kirk said.

After a brief standoff, officers found Courtney Webber, 25, hiding under a bed and arrested her on suspicion of felony hit and run involving injury, El Cajon police Lt. Stephen Kirk said.

According to DMV records, Webber was driving on a suspended license from a drunken driving conviction in 2016.

The boy was hit near the intersection of North Sunshine Avenue and West Main Street at about 7:30 a.m., the El Cajon Police Department said. 

The boy was riding his bike through the intersection on a green light when the Webber allegedly drove through the intersection and struck him.

He was listed in serious condition at Rady Children's Hospital as of Thursday night. A witness who pulled over to help the boy told NBC 7 he was bleeding, unconscious and breathing very slowly.

A Cajon Valley School District spokesperson told NBC 7 the boy was a student in the district but did not say which school. The district counseling team will be in the schools Friday to meet with students that may be impacted by the accident.

The car was last seen heading westbound on Main Street, police said. Investigators released a still photo of the suspect vehicle, a blue Honda Fit, hours later, that came from a hotel surveillance system two blocks away from the crash site.

The camera picked up the blue Fit as it was headed westbound on Main. Police said the driver had bleach-blonde hair and large hoop earrings.

About 200 feet later and out of frame, the woman collided with the boy on his BMX bike.

"You're just in a state of shock. You're like, 'This woman just plowed into somebody,'" Tom Mascari said. He saw the crash from the opposite side of the road and stopped to help. "She must have hit him going 30, 35 mph. She just never slowed down at the intersection and kept going."

Mascari said the bike flew 10 feet in the air. The boy's backpack exploded and debris filled the intersection. 

Mascari said the boy was wearing a helmet but appeared to have suffered a severe head injury.

In addition to the hit and run, Webber was also booked on possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia from a previous warrant, Kirk said. She is being held at Las Colinas Detention Center on $55,000 bond. 

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