New Year's Day hit-and-run: St. Paul man arrested, accused of severely injuring woman

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Police lights. (police lights / FOX 9)

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - A man is in custody after police say he admitted to striking a woman with a car and leaving the scene just hours into the new year.

The alleged hit-and-run left the woman with life-threatening injuries, according to the criminal complaint.

Woman seriously injured in hit-and-run 

Big picture view:

Minneapolis police say they responded to a hit-and-run crash that left a pedestrian injured at the intersection of 4th Avenue Northeast and University Avenue Northeast around 2 a.m. on Jan. 1, according to a criminal complaint that was filed in Hennepin County.

Officers then spoke with EMS at the scene, who said the woman was unconscious and suffering from life-threatening injuries. She was then taken to the hospital in critical condition.

The complaint states her injuries included multiple fractures, including to her pelvis, lower spine, left tibia and fibula, as well as orbital bones. The complaint adds she was also diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury and a subarachnoid hemorrhage. 

Investigators say they viewed milestone camera footage and determined a 2013 black Dodge Avenger struck the victim.

Police then recovered the car in Minneapolis and noted severe damage to the front windshield that was consistent with a pedestrian crash, according to the criminal complaint.

Passenger comes forward

What they're saying:

The criminal complaint states a witness who was a passenger in the Avenger contacted police the day after the incident. 

The witness told police he was a passenger in the car that struck the victim, adding that he was asleep at the time, but woke up when he heard the crash. 

That witness then identified the driver as Maurice Ladale Carter, 26, of St. Paul, Minnesota, according to the criminal complaint. 

Investigators then found surveillance footage which showed Carter in the driver's seat and the witness in the passenger's seat 10 minutes before the crash.

The criminal complaint states Carter then admitted to driving the car, striking the woman and driving away during a phone call with police on Jan. 14. He then turned himself in to the Minneapolis Police Department on Jan. 15.

Carter is charged with criminal vehicular operation and is set to make his first court appearance during the afternoon of Friday, Jan. 17.