Pedestrian struck by hit-and-run driver in Santa Ana in critical condition; suspect surrenders

A woman who had previously been convicted of drunken driving was behind bars Tuesday, Oct. 8 after surrendering to police as a suspect in a Santa Ana hit-and-run collision that left a 79-year-old woman clinging to life.

Karina Elizabeth Garcia, 25, of Irvine turned herself in to to authorities Monday afternoon while accompanied by her attorney, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.

She is accused of driving a Honda Civic that struck the victim in a crosswalk in the 2500 block of North Fairview Street about 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6, Bertagna said.

Garcia later admitted to hitting a person with a car that evening, and told investigators where to find the vehicle involved in the collision. Officers located it in Irvine with damage “consistent with striking a pedestrian,” Santa Ana police said in a news release.

The victim remained hospitalized in critical condition Tuesday, Bertagna said.

Police booked Garcia into the Santa Ana Jail on suspicion of hit-and-run resulting in injury and driving on a license suspended for DUI.

She had pleaded guilty on Oct. 10, 2017, to driving with a blood-alcohol level of .20%, well above the legal limit of .08, according to court records.