Owner of car arrested in hit and run

Caitlin Hudgins

Tuesday, July 6, 2004 | 9:34 a.m.

A man who reported his car stolen after a hit-and-run accident Friday morning was later charged with injuring a mother and her two children with the car at Main Street and Owens Avenue.

The woman was waiting at a crosswalk with her children, ages 2 and 6, about 9:20 a.m. when she was struck by the gold Chevrolet, Metro Police spokesman Sgt. Rick Barela said.

The woman was knocked into a light pole, nearly tearing off her leg, Barela said. The 2-year-old was thrown out of a stroller.

The woman was taken to University Medical Center, Barela said, where her leg might be amputated. Her children were not seriously injured, but one had to get stitches.

Police arrested 28-year-old Rene Sosa and charged him with felony hit and run, Barela said, after they found his wallet and picture identification in the wrecked car a mile away, police said.

Sosa had just reported to police and his employer that the car was stolen, Barela said.

Witnesses told police after the crash that the driver looked like he was getting ready to drive away, so they went to the car and tried to remove the keys from the ignition. The driver sped off on two flat tires before witnesses could open the door, Barela said.

They followed the car for about a mile to G Street and Adams Avenue, where the driver jumped out of his car and ran into an alley, Barela said. The abandoned car's front bumper was dented and both of its airbags were deployed, he said.

Witnesses tried to follow the driver, but they lost sight of him, Barela said.

After finding Sosa's wallet, police went to his workplace and, while they were there, Sosa called his employer to say that his car had been stolen. He then called Metro to report the incident.

Police responded to Sosa's call of a stolen car and got witnesses to identify him. They then arrested him.