7-Year-Old California Child Killed in Hit-and-Run by Stolen Car Involved in Robbery
A 7-year-old child in California is dead after being struck by a stolen car in a hit-and-run incident, according to police.
The fatal incident occurred on Monday afternoon when the child, whose identity has not been released, was riding on a bicycle at the intersection of North Park Victoria Drive and Kennedy Drive in Milpitas, according to NBC Bay Area.
A local police officer had spotted a white Lexus SUV that was reported stolen and involved in a robbery in San Jose traveling on East Calaveras Boulevard, The Milpitas Beat reported.
Another officer in the area also noticed the car, though neither pursued the vehicle or attempted a traffic stop, according to the local newspaper.
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Police believe the driver of the SUV spotted the officers and quickly made a right turn at North Park Victoria Drive.
Soon after, officers reportedly received a call that the same vehicle had struck a child riding a bicycle at an intersection and continued driving northbound.
The SUV driver, a 36-year-old woman from San Jose, ditched the car a mile north from the crash site and ran away, but was soon caught and arrested by police, The Mercury News reported.
Another passenger in the SUV — described by police as a man with blond hair and wearing glasses and a hat — remains at large after getting into the driver's seat and speeding off, according to the outlet.
Officers reportedly pursued the SUV onto Interstate 680 and into Fremont, where they lost sight of the vehicle.
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The child died of her injuries after she was transported to a local hospital, The Mercury News reported.
A spokesperson for the Milpitas Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment, though they said in a statement to The Milpitas Beat, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the young child's family and our community. We are all deeply impacted by the senseless and tragic loss of life."
Authorities are now asking those with information to contact Milpitas police at 408-586-2400 or leave a tip with 408-586-2500 or online at ci.milpitas.ca.gov/crimetip.
The suspect's car is described as a white 2015 Lexus R35 with the California license plate 7KTA363.
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