Merced police say crash that injured elderly pedestrians investigated as attempted homicide

Two elderly pedestrians were injured Thursday in Merced when a blue car slammed into them on the sidewalk and then sped away from the scene near Chenoweth Elementary School.

Few details were immediately available, but Merced police described the apparent hit-and-run incident as an attempted homicide. Police said they captured the driver less than an hour after the crash but did not immediately release the man’s identity.

The victims, a man and a woman believed to be in their 80s, were rushed to Mercy Medical Center with “moderate” injuries. The man was later flown to a Modesto area hospital, according to Lt. Emily Foster. Police said they were in stable condition Thursday evening.

The collision was reported just after 12:30 p.m. in the 3200 block of Parsons Avenue.

According to police, the vehicle drove across the northbound lane of Parsons Avenue and up onto the sidewalk where it struck the victims, believed to be a couple from Merced.

Foster said the victims were dragged 30 to 40 feet before the vehicle left them behind at the scene.

Police said Merced County Sheriff’s Deputies located the vehicle a short time later in the area of Arboleda Drive and Yosemite Avenue. Investigators have not commented on a possible motive for the incident.

Anyone with information regarding the collision is asked to contact Merced police Officer Jeff Gonzales at 209-388-7712.

This story was originally published October 7, 2021 at 2:35 PM.