Suspect Charged In Chelsea Hit And Run Of Elderly Pedestrian
CHELSEA (CBS) -- A Lynn man accused of hitting an elderly woman with a car in Chelsea and leaving the scene was held on $2,000 bail Monday.
Arnold Hernandez, 25, is accused of hitting a 72-year-old woman with a white minivan on Friday at the intersection of Broadway and 4th Street and driving away. Chelsea police took to social media to ask for the public's help in finding Hernandez.
Police say a telephone tip led to Hernandez's arrest.
Hernandez's defense attorney said his client did not know he had hit the woman.
"He saw the lady, at one point he even saw her in the rear view mirror. He had no idea that he had hit her," Hernandez's attorney Francisco Napolitano said. "He didn't hear anything out of the ordinary, there was no bump, there was nothing to suggest that he had made contact with another object. So he continued."
That's not what he told police, according to court documents. Court records show Hernandez told officers he was looking in one direction and the woman banged her hand on the hood of his car. He allegedly said he saw the woman fall to the ground as a he drove away.
The woman was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, and is now OK.
Hernandez's wife, who is separated from him, said his arrest was a shock.
"I can't believe this is happening," Joycelyn Hernandez said. "This is a hard-working man who took care of his kids, who took care of me. He did everything he had to do."
The van in the video apparently belongs to Hernandez's mother.
Hernandez pleaded not guilty to all charges Monday. A Chelsea District Court judge held Hernandez on $2,000 cash bail.
