Police in California are seeking information on a driver who is suspected of repeatedly ramming an elderly woman in the parking lot of a church with his vehicle on Feb 11.
An unnamed 77-year-old woman was walking, with the assistance of a cane and a walker, in the parking lot of the First Presbyterian Church in Castro Valley when the driver of a white Nissan Altima reportedly struck her repeatedly, according to KRON 4.
Authorities release video of hit-and-run suspect striking 77-year-old woman using a walker in Castro Valley church parking lot. WATCH: https://t.co/a0m1N6WZpZ
— KRON4 News (@kron4news) February 14, 2023
Surveillance footage provided by the church to the outlet shows the vehicle pull out of a parking space and ease up next to the woman as she made her way towards the church. After what appeared to be a short exchange, the woman attempts to walk away from the vehicle. The driver then seems to accelerate and swipe the woman, knocking her cane out of her hand. The car then appears to loop the parking lot to ram the woman a second time, this time with enough force to send the woman onto the hood of the car before she rolls off onto the pavement. (RELATED: Police Say Pedestrian Killed In ‘Intentional’ Car Crash)
Aaron Horner, the church’s community outreach director, witnessed the horrifying incident and was among those who offered assistance to the woman until paramedics arrived. “She already struggles, so to see her treated like that? That was just rough,” he told the outlet.
Lt. Tya Modeste of the Alameda County Sheriff’s office told the outlet it was a “miracle” the woman only sustained “non-life-threatening injuries,” adding that the driver “had total disregard” for the victim as a human being.
The Alameda County Sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information about the driver to contact their office.