A 911 caller followed a hit-and-run driver about 4.5 miles after the driver struck a pedestrian on Tualatin Valley Highway on Tuesday, Aug. 18, helping deputies track down and arrest the suspect in south Beaverton.
Anne Elizalde, 44, of Tigard, faces two counts of felony hit-and-run after the crash near SW 185th Avenue and TV Highway in Aloha at about 9:15 p.m., according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
The pedestrian was taken to a local hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to recover. Authorities have not released the victim's name or age.
How it unfolded
A first 911 caller reported the crash and that the vehicle had fled eastbound on TV Highway. Multiple witnesses stopped to check on the victim and called 911, the sheriff's office said.
Washington County deputies and Beaverton Police officers fanned out to search for the suspect vehicle. Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue and American Medical Response treated the pedestrian at the scene.
While that search was underway, a second caller reported they were actively following the suspect's vehicle and relayed its location to dispatchers. Deputies stopped Elizalde driving a 2002 Lexus RX300 near SW Murray Boulevard and SW Sexton Mountain Drive, about 4.5 miles from the crash scene, The Oregonian reported.
The sheriff's office thanked witnesses who stopped to help the victim and the driver who trailed the suspect vehicle.
What's next
Elizalde was booked into the Washington County Jail. Court documents show she was granted conditional release, though Washington County Jail records still showed her in custody as of Aug. 19, according to The Oregonian.
The crash is the second pedestrian or cyclist hit-and-run in the Beaverton area in recent weeks. On July 25, a 74-year-old cyclist was severely injured on NW West Union Road by an SUV that fled the scene. That case remains under investigation.
Anyone who witnessed the Aug. 18 crash and has not spoken with investigators can contact Washington County non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111, referencing case No. 50-26-11718.
