A young woman was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Main Street and North Beach Road at around 10 a.m., on Wednesday, April 8.

The suspect, Benjamin Robert Hanks, 29, is charged with felony hit-and-run with injuries, which is a Class C felony, which carries a possible sentence of up to five years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

Hanks is currently waiting for his arraignment this Friday.

The victim, 18-year-old Emily Foster, was conscious when paramedics arrived on the scene. Eyewitness accounts said Foster was struck and flew up over the car. Foster said she did not know the driver. She was airlifted off the island for treatment and released the same day. Foster, a high school student, sustained road rash and swelling on her face and a sprained knee and back.

“I’m really shocked with the amount of support I’ve gotten from everyone on the island,” she said. “People I don’t even know are contacting me and asking about me, and I really think all of the support is helping me heal.”

To help fund her recovery for medical bills, visit www.gofundme.com/emilyfoster.

The alleged driver and vehicle did not appear to be at the scene of the incident. According to Undersheriff Brent Johnson the incident was immediately classified as a hit-and-run.

“We heard it first. I heard her screaming and then crying,” said several witnesses who did not see the crash, but were down the block when the accident occurred.

Other witnesses reported that the car accelerated after stopping at the stop sign at the intersection despite seeing Foster on the road.

According to deputies, the victim said that she made eye contact with the driver prior to being struck.

The suspect was located by deputies at around 11:30 a.m. on April 8. His vehicle was impounded and a search warrant was sought to search the vehicle.

The suspect was then transported to the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office.

Four deputies and a detective as well as the San Juan County Sheriff’s accident reconstructionist arrived to process the scene later that day.

According to Johnson, there have been several hit-and-runs on parked vehicles in the county, but very few involving pedestrians.

“It’s a rare occurrence in our county when it comes to a hit-and-run on a person,” said Johnson.