Woman Drives Over Another While Fleeing Accident in Stolen Vehicle: Peninsula Prosectors

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A San Jose woman who allegedly stole a vehicle and ran over a woman in a hit-and-run in San Francisco pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning to several felony charges, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.

Melissa Lawson, 18, was arrested Sunday after Daly City police found the stolen vehicle parked outside of a residence with a couple sitting inside.

Prosecutors said the couple informed police officers that Lawson was inside the residence, and upon entering they found her asleep. She was then arrested on suspicion of felony car theft.

Further investigation later revealed that the same woman had been involved in a hit-and-run crash in the Sunnydale area of San Francisco, according to the district attorney's office.

"[She] was in [a] fender bender with another car," a report from the DA's office states. "Defendant started to flee the collision scene and ran over the woman who was connected to the other car (actually driving over the woman."

Authorities say that other woman suffered a "significant" head injury as a result.

Lawson was ultimately charged with two felony counts of hit-and-run, grand theft auto, and driving without a license, prosecutors said.

She pleaded not guilty to all charges in court in South San Francisco and was ordered to return to court on Jan. 23. She remains in custody on $50,000 bail.

— Bay City News Service contributed to this report / Image via Shutterstock