A morning in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter turned violent yesterday when a driver allegedly aimed her car at two women walking through the busy nightlife district, seriously injuring both and landing herself in handcuffs.
The collision happened on the 500 block of Fourth Avenue near Island Avenue, according to city police. Officers say the driver, identified as Annabel Fernandez, struck two pedestrians with her vehicle, a four-door Kia Optima, and both victims were taken to a hospital with serious injuries.
In a statement to CBS 8, the San Diego Police Department said Fernandez was arrested on suspicion of two counts of attempted murder and felony DUI. Investigators say the crash followed a physical altercation between Fernandez and the two women. Police allege she then waited in her car and accelerated toward them as they crossed Fourth Avenue.
Downtown Safety and Past Hit-and-Runs
The Gaslamp Quarter, packed with bars, restaurants, and foot traffic late into the night, has long been a focal point for concerns about pedestrian safety. As reported by Times of San Diego, police were still investigating an earlier hit-and-run in the neighborhood last year, highlighting ongoing enforcement challenges in the Fourth and Fifth Avenue corridors.
Charges and Investigation
Officers on routine patrol later spotted and stopped the Kia at Fifth and Island avenues, where they detained Fernandez and evaluated her for possible drunk driving, the police told CBS 8. The San Diego Police Department says the investigation is still underway, and prosecutors will ultimately decide whether to file formal charges.
Authorities have not released the names of the injured women or full details of their conditions. Police are urging the public to hold off on speculation while detectives sort through witness statements, physical evidence, and the circumstances surrounding what investigators have described as a deliberate act.
