Woman Who Hit 12-Year-Old With Car Arrested In OC, Police Say

SANTA ANA, CA — An 18-year-old woman was arrested Wednesday after a 12-year-old girl was hit by a car while walking to school in Santa Ana, the Santa Ana Police Department reported.

Madeline Ortiz, 18, was arrested after SAPD officers served a search warrant to a residence in the 3600 block of West Kent Avenue in Santa Ana.

She was booked for felony hit-and-run at the Santa Ana Jail, authorities said.

Ortiz is accused of hitting a 12-year-old girl with her car while she was walking to school in Santa Ana Wednesday morning, leaving her fighting for her life at a hospital.

The girl was hit at about 8 a.m. at Newhope Street and McFadden Avenue as she was walking to school at Fitz Intermediate Language Academy, authorities said.

The girl, who was not identified by authorities, was taken to a hospital in critical condition and was undergoing surgery as of Wednesday, according to SAPD Officer Natalie Garcia.

The victim's current status is not immediately known.

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