[UPDATED with Driver Turning Herself In:] Gregory Martin Hit by One Car and Dragged by Another


UPDATE, DEC. 30, 10:53 A.M.: Garden Grove Police say Guadalupe Quinonez turned herself in as the hit-and-run driver who struck Gregory Martin before the 54-year-old was dragged 750 feet by a second car Wednesday evening.

Quinonez, 29, of Santa Ana, was booked into Orange County Jail on charges of felony hit-and-run, driving with a suspended license and, because her 7-year-old daughter was in the gray Dodge Magnum at the time, child endangerment.
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A statement this morning from Garden Grove Police Lt. Jeff Nightengale, the department spokesman, fills in what apparently happened to Quinonez after a motorist who followed the Magnum jotted down the license number:

“She drove to her residence in Santa Ana and left her daughter with an acquaintance. She then left her home on foot, leaving her vehicle parked on her street. Family members whom Quinonez called later picked up the daughter from Quinonez' residence. Investigators later found Quinonez' daughter and her vehicle, a few hours after the collision.”

Martin is listed in critical condition at a local hospital.


ORIGINAL POST, DEC. 29, 10:12 A.M.: Gregory Martin, 54, of Garden Grove, was walking across West Street near Garden Grove Boulevard about 20 minutes before 7 p.m. Wednesday when he was struck in a southbound lane by a gray Dodge Magnum similar to the one depicted at right. Martin was not in a crosswalk, the Magnum driver did not stop, and the victim's nightmare was not over.

Moments later, Martin was struck by a white Ford Explorer that dragged him 750 feet, a route that involved continuing south of West Street, making the turn at Garden Grove Boulevard and heading west before coming to a stop.


The Explorer driver thought he had hit some debris, figuring it would become dislodged if he kept driving. He stopped when it did not fall off, took a look under his vehicle and saw what he had been dragging, Mr. Martin. The victim was later rushed to a local hospital with severe injuries. After the Explorer driver gave police a statement, he and his vehicle were released.

Meanwhile, another driver had seen the Magnum hit the fellow, followed that car and scribbled down the license number. Using the registered owner information, Garden Grove cops went to several locations and interviewed many people before finding the damaged Magnum abandoned at Fairview Street and Trask Avenue in Santa Ana. It was taken to the Orange County Crime Lab. The vehicle's owner has not been found.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that can help police is asked to call Garden Grove Police Investigator Jason Perkins at 714.741.5823.

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