** UPDATE — 12-03-09 @ 2:27 p.m. **
On December 2nd at approximately 7:01 p.m. the male suspect was driving northbound on Rainier Avenue South in his Toyota Corolla. Preliminary investigation indicates that at South Andover Street the suspect drove through a red traffic light and struck a female pedestrian who was in a marked crosswalk. The suspect pushed the victim onto the sidewalk and continued on northbound and was stopped by responding officers near 20th Avenue South and South Jackson Street.
SFD Medics responded and transported the female victim to Harborview Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.
Investigating officers evaluated the suspect for signs of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The suspect displayed signs of impairment and was taken to Harborview Medical Center for a blood draw as part of a Vehicular Assault and DUI investigation. The suspect was subsequently arrested and booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Vehicular Assault, a felony.
Traffic Collision Investigation Squad detectives responded to the scene and continue to actively investigate.