A 3-month-old boy suffered life-threatening injures late Sunday when the car he was in was hit by a car that ran a red light, Fife police said Monday.
The driver of the second car ran from the scene but was arrested early Monday at a Fife apartment complex, police Lt. Tom Thompson said.
The 26-year-old man was booked into the Pierce County Jail on suspicion of vehicular assault, failure to remain at the scene of an injury accident, and second-degree driving or revoked with a suspended license.
Tacoma fire paramedics took the baby boy to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, Thompson said.
According to police, the 26-year-old was driving east on 20th Street East about 10 p.m. when he ran a red light and struck a car going south on 70th Avenue East.
The 26-year-old’s car hit the rear passenger side of the car carrying the baby, who was buckled into his car seat on that side of the vehicle.
The child’s father was treated at the scene for his injuries. The baby’s mother was in another car and saw the crash, Thompson said.
The first car slid off the road, and witnesses told police the driver got out and ran away. A police dog was called in but didn’t find the fleeing driver, Thompson said.
Investigators found the name of the suspected driver inside his crashed vehicle. The man matched the description of the fleeing driver given by witnesses, Thompson said. Investigators found the man asleep on a friend’s couch about 2:15 a.m., Thompson said.
The man was interviewed, then booked into jail. Thompson said the man told investigators he ran away because he had a suspended driver’s license.
Stacey Mulick: 253-597-8268
stacey.mulick@thenewstribune.com
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