A woman who apparently purposefully ran down three pedestrians, including her estranged husband, in Martinez this morning jumped to her death from the Benicia-Martinez Bridge a short time later, according to police.
Witnesses say the woman, whose identity has not yet been released by police, drove directly toward the three at about 10:30 a.m. as they were crossing the street in the town’s busy court district, according to Martinez
police.
After driving into the three victims, who were in a crosswalk at the intersection of Court and Main streets, the woman then stopped her car and reversed into one of the three before speeding away, police said.
About 20 minutes later, police received a report that a woman had jumped from the bridge, about 2.5 miles away, and investigators believe she was the same woman who drove into the three pedestrians in Martinez.
Police said the suspect’s husband had just left a hearing at the county’s family law courthouse and was accompanied by two female friends when they were hit.
All three were taken to a hospital with moderate injuries, according to police.
The suspect’s body was recovered from under the bridge by officers from the Martinez and Benicia police departments, the California Highway Patrol and members of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Press Release via Martinez Police Department:
MARTINEZ POLICE DEPARTMENT:
PRESS RELEASE ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON
On November 7, 2016, at 1033 hours, Martinez Police Dispatch received a call of an injury accident at the intersection of Court St. and Main St. The reporting party advised the suspect had fled the area in a light blue vehicle.
Upon MPD arrival, several Contra Costa County Sheriff Deputies were already on scene and rendering first aid to three injured subjects. In speaking with witnesses, it appears the suspect intentionally struck three pedestrians in the crosswalk and then fled the area. All three subjects were transported to local hospitals with moderate injuries.
It appears one of the victims left a family court hearing at the Family Law Center (751 Pine St.) just prior to the incident. He was accompanied by two friends and as they were crossing the street, the victim’s estranged wife accelerated her vehicle toward the three subjects in the crosswalk. The driver struck all three pedestrians then stopped the vehicle and reversed directions. She struck one of the other victims a second time with her vehicle before fleeing the scene.
Approximately twenty minutes later, Benicia Police Department received a report of a female that appeared to have jumped from the Benicia Bridge. Martinez PD, Benicia PD, CHP and the United States Coast Guard responded to the area where they located a deceased female under the bridge. A vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle in the hit and run was located on the bridge in the area where the female had jumped.
Based on all indications, it appears the female who jumped from the bridge was also the driver of the vehicle who struck the pedestrians. Her name is being withheld until positive identification from the Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office.
Investigation is ongoing.
2 comments
Wow. How tragic.
Very sad outcome
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