pedestrian hit by carIt was reported that Margarita Elena Franco was charged in 7th District Court with three counts of aggravated assault and a third-degree felony. She was also charged with one count of failure to remain at the scene of an accident with injuries which is a class A misdemeanor. According to the report, Franco, 57, is accused of intentionally hitting a neighbor with her car while the woman was walking on July 15 and Aug. 3.

Carbon County Sheriff’s Lt. Tory Christiansen said that at about 7 a.m. of July 15 Franco was driving in the Spring Glen area when she swerved at a neighbor who was out for her morning walk. Allegedly, Franco hit the neighbor with her car and drove away. Authorities were not able to locate Franco and were said to be processing a warrant for her arrest when she hit the woman again on August 3.

Authorities said that the woman suffered a bad cut on her knee. It was also learned that after hitting the woman, Franco put her car in reverse in an apparent attempt to back her over. Allegedly, she then circled around and drove toward the injured woman again before driving away.

The injured woman was taken to Castleview Hospital for treatment. Franco was found and arrested later that day by deputies.

It was revealed by court records that Franco sought civil stalking injunctions against 10 people on March 26. A judge denied all of those petitions. On Tuesday, however, a judge granted a temporary stalking injunction against Franco to the woman she is accused of hitting and the woman’s husband.

At present, Franco remains in the Carbon County Jail.

FIX ME RIGHT NOW PLEASEChristensen & Hymas reminds everybody that there is a consequence if you intentionally injur others especially if a vehicle is used in the incident.

If anyone has suffered injuries because of someone’s recklessness or negligence, he/she may be entitled to compensation. Call Christensen & Hymas at (801)-506-0800 for a free initial consultation. We can help you process your claims.

Original article by Geoff Liesik of Deseret News.

Photo courtesy of Ulrich Steinlechner.