Police identify suspect in Castro Valley hit-and-run that hurt child

CASTRO VALLEY, Calif. (KGO) -- Castro Valley police have identified a driver accused of hitting a young child as he was walking to school and then fleeing the scene. According to officials, the accident around 8 a.m. was part of a series of events that began at a Livermore car dealership overnight.

On Monday evening, police released information of the suspect. They believe the driver of the car was 29-year-old Daniel Morris of Castro Valley. He is still on the run.

"I heard a crash," said Larry Smario.

Smario says he heard a loud noise and then ran outside of his Castro Valley home.

"So I went to my bedroom window and I saw the guy get out and run off down the hill," he said.

Pinned underneath the dark Ford Fusion was a 6-year-old boy who had been walking down Meadowview Drive toward Marshall Street the street just seconds earlier.

"Preliminarily (sic) it looks as if his left leg was pinned against a utility pole," said CHP Sgt. Mindy Laponte. "Information suggests he stopped on his way to school to bend down and look at some worms."

The injured boy is a student at nearby Marshall Elementary School.

"We're extremely saddened by the incident, it's one of our students, we know that it impacts the family of the student as well as the rest of our students and staff here," said Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi.

"I hope he makes it without losing his leg, we're supposed to know later today," said neighbor Tim Kuta.

Police say the Ford was one of five stolen during an elaborate theft just after midnight captured on several surveillance cameras at Livermore Ford.

"We had a fairly sophisticated vehicle theft crew come into our city," said Art Rosas with Livermore police.

The crew of thieves spent more than an hour first prying open two key boxes and then driving cars off one by one. That included a pickup, two SUVs, and two sedans, including the Fusion.

After the crash in Castro Valley, police pulled various items out of the Fusion, including a backpack.

Despite an extensive search, the suspect was able to escape into the neighborhood.