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Impaired driver hits pedestrian on sidewalk near 7th Street/Baseline

Posted at 10:18 AM, Jun 25, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-29 20:57:09-04

A suspected impaired driver has been arrested after hitting a pedestrian on a Phoenix sidewalk.

Officers were called to the area of 7th Street and Baseline Road around 4:00 p.m. on June 24 after a van operated by 61-year-old Raul Parra was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes. 

According to police, Parra drove along a curb, onto the sidewalk and hit a pedestrian. The car continued driving on the sidewalk, hit a landscaping boulder, a block wall and two parked vehicles. 

The pedestrian, 43-year-old Christopher Garland, was transported to the hospital in extremely critical condition with multiple compound fractures.

Garland's family told ABC15 he worked at Fry's in the area and was walking home from work. First responders didn't think he would survive. He is now awake and asking questions. 

"His life is definitely going to be changed forever. We don't know how long the recovery process is going to be. He is on dialysis at the moment, his kidneys were beginning to fail him," a family member told ABC15.

Police said Parra climbed out the car window and attempted to leave the scene of the crash but was quickly taken into custody. 

While walking away from the scene, witnesses told police that Parra threw a plastic bag on the ground.

Police retrieved the bag and found that it contained methamphetamine.

Parra was booked into jail and charged with aggravated assault, leaving the scene of a crash and possession of dangerous drugs. 

He is being held on a $100,000 bond.

A Gofundme has been set up for Garland. If you'd like to help, CLICK HERE