Hit and Run Drunk Driver Seriously Injures Female Pedestrian

August 18, 2009

San Marcos – A 27-year old man from San Marcos, Leopoldo Morales was arrested by the police following a hit and run crash where he dragged a woman about 40 feet with his car in the parking lot before engaging in a chase with the police.

San Diego County Sheriff's Deputy Tammy Bennetts reported that the accident occurred around 4:30 p.m. when Morales backed up his Saturn SL on the victim who was walking with her husband to their car in the San Marcos Market parking lot.

She fell backward and got trapped beneath the car until Morales applied the brakes. The woman managed to get free and was admitted to Palomar Medical Center in Escondido. The victim suffered injuries to right arm, back and ribs as well as internal injuries.

Morales then took off towards West Mission Road where he was then chased by a Palomar College police officer. Morales reportedly crashed his car into a parked vehicle on Descanso Avenue and he abandoned his car and ran, hiding in Linda Vista Drive.

Witnesses pointed Morales out to the deputies and was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence and causing serious bodily injury, felony hit and run causing serious injury, evading and misdemeanor hit and run.

Morales is currently being held in jail on a bail of $163,500.