BEVERLY — Police have arrested an Essex man who appears to have been the driver in a Sunday night a hit-and-run crash that left an Ipswich woman seriously injured.
On Monday, police arrested Diego Mattos-Vazualdo, 47, of Essex, charging him with negligent operation of a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident.
Officers responded to 375 Rantoul St. about 10:15 p.m. on the report of a female pedestrian who had been struck by a vehicle. The victim was identified as a 27-year-old Ipswich resident.
Upon locating the woman, police immediately began treating her and tried to make her comfortable. The woman, whose ID has not yet been released, was transported by ambulance to Beverly Hospital to stabilize her injuries — which were believed to be serious — before being Medflighted to Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston.
At this time her condition has not been updated.
A preliminary investigation revealed the victim had walked into the street and was first struck by a vehicle moving traveling southbound.
The operator of that vehicle remained on the scene and is cooperating with police.
The woman was then struck by the second vehicle, operated by Mattos-Vazualdo, who was traveling northbound. He stopped for a matter of seconds, then fled the scene.
Based on witness statements, an accurate description of the fleeing vehicle was obtained and relayed to surrounding areas.
Essex police were able to stop a vehicle matching that description, and the operator, identified as Mattos-Vazualdo, told Essex officers he thought he may have struck something.
He was transported by Beverly Officers back to police headquarters where he was charged. He was expected to be arraigned in court later Monday.
The investigation remains ongoing with Beverly police and the assistance of the State Police Crash Recon team.