Petaluma pedestrian clinging to life after hit-and-run crash

A 70-year-old woman crossing an east Petaluma thoroughfare was struck by a van Saturday and abandoned in the roadway with life-threatening injuries by the driver who initially stopped then drove away, police officials said.

Several witnesses told police the woman may have been crossing against the traffic signal at the time of the crash, Petaluma Police Sgt. Ron Klein said.

The woman was rushed to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital after the 7:30 p.m. collision in a South McDowell Boulevard crossing at Caulfield Lane. Her condition and name weren’t immediately available Sunday morning.

The woman was heading east across South McDowell Boulevard, and she was nearly across the four-lane roadway when she was hit by the northbound van, Klein said.

At that point the light appeared to be red for the pedestrian, according to the witnesses. She was thrown about 50 feet by the impact.

The van’s driver initially stopped, “then quickly took off, turning right onto a road off South McDowell Boulevard,” Klein said.

Anyone with information about the case can call Klein at 707-778-4596.

You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 707-521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jjpressdem.