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'via Blog this'By KING 5 News
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Seattle police continue to search for the driver who intentionally ran down two teenagers with her car in a fit of rage Wednesday morning, then drove away. Police say a fight over a pit bull sparked the violence that left the teens injured and in the hospital.
Friends identified the victims as 17-year-old Jessica Vega Lopez and 18-year-old Cassandra Goodwin, students at Chief Sealth High School in West Seattle. Both were treated for injuries at Harborview Medical Center.
Police said a 37-year-old woman in a black Honda intentionally hit the two students just after 10 a.m. in the 2600 block of SW Thistle, across the street from the school.
Witnesses say the two teens were walking to school when a pit bull ran up to one of the girls. One of them hit the dog because she got scared. That's when the owner of the pit bull ran over and hit the girl with her hand.
"It's not like she socked the dog or kicked the dog or was trying to hurt the dog. She pushed the dog," said Amelia Prior, Cassandra's sister.
When the girls walked away, the owner of the dog went back to her house and got into her car. Witnesses said the woman rolled her car near the girls, stopped and then hit the gas, barreling right into the two teens.
"The car came in out of nowhere," said Terry Thomas, witness. "I jumped out of the way because I thought I was about to get hit. Next thing I know, I heard boom, boom. I saw my friends go flying in the air and the car just took off and kept going."
"She purposely moved around other kids, slowed down and then immediately hit the gas to hit them," said Chelsea White, witness.
Friends tried to keep the girls calm while a nurse who lived nearby rushed to help until medics arrived.
"Jessica had blood coming out from her mouth and was starting to hyperventilate and there was blood on (Cassandra's) head and all over her mouth," said Chelsea White, who was walking to school with the victims.
The 17-year-old suffered leg injuries, while the 18-year-old suffered head and upper body injuries. Both were taken to Harborview Medical Center. Lopez was scheduled to be released Wednesday, but Goodwin was in intensive care in serious condition. Her family said she may have broken bones and internal bleeding.
"We didn’t think it would escalate from a fight to them getting hit," said Katie Milliner, who was standing next to the victims.
Police were still looking for the driver, described as a 37-year-old woman in a black Honda sedan. Police say the woman called 911 shortly after the incident and said she would turn herself into police, but she still hasn't done so.
If you spot the vehicle or have information about the driver, you are asked to call police.
KING 5's Zahid Arab, Travis Pittman and Liza Javier contributed to this report.
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