COSTA MESA — Ryota Takamatsu, 22, was arrested Monday morning on suspicion of felony hit-and-run DUI, according to the Costa Mesa Police Department.
Takamatsu is accused of striking a 15-year-old female pedestrian at the intersection of Fairview Road and Baker Street around 1:30 a.m. while driving a white 2003 Saturn Vue SUV. Police said the teenager was running against a red light.
Police said Takamatsu drove away and at one point turned off his headlights, but one witness followed the SUV while others assisted the victim. The witness helped police locate the SUV and the driver on the 1200 block of Adams Avenue.
The victim, whose name was not released, suffered a skull fracture and was taken to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana. She was reported to be in serious but stable condition in the critical care unit.
Takamatsu, whose city of residence was not immediately released, was booked for felony hit-and-run and felony DUI. He is being held on $100,000 bail and will be transferred from the Costa Mesa Police Department’s jail to the Orange County Jail in Santa Ana.
Police are asking additional witnesses to contact Traffic Investigator Darren Wood at (714) 754-5264.