A 22-year-old Oregon woman is recovering from serious injuries after she says an SUV driver struck her twice and fled the scene while she was walking to work after eating breakfast at a McDonald’s restaurant.
The hit-and-run occurred shortly before 7 a.m. on July 13 near Town Center Drive in Hillsboro, just west of Portland. Police are continuing to investigate and are searching for the driver involved.
Woman Was Walking From McDonald’s to Work
The victim, Estefania Lopez, shared details of the incident in interviews with local media and through a GoFundMe campaign created to help cover her medical expenses.
According to Lopez, she had just finished breakfast at a nearby McDonald’s and was walking to her job at Ulta Beauty when the crash happened.
She said she noticed an SUV stopped before crossing the street and believed the driver had seen her because they made eye contact.
After believing it was safe to cross, Lopez stepped into the roadway.
SUV Suddenly Accelerated
Lopez recalled that she was almost across the street when she suddenly heard tires screeching.
She said the vehicle accelerated toward her without warning.
“The next thing I knew, I was being hit,” Lopez said, adding that it was devastating to realize no one immediately came to help after the collision.
In her GoFundMe post, Lopez said she believes the driver intentionally struck her.
According to her account, the SUV ran over her twice before leaving the scene without stopping.
Serious Injuries Required Hospitalization
The crash left Lopez with significant injuries.
Doctors diagnosed her with:
- A fractured pelvis
- A broken bone in her lower back
She remained hospitalized for four days while receiving treatment.
Although surgery was not required, Lopez said doctors expect her recovery to take about three months.
She is currently relying on both a walker and a wheelchair while recovering from her injuries.
Medical Costs Continue to Grow
In addition to recovering physically, Lopez said she is facing substantial medical expenses.
According to her GoFundMe page, she received hospital bills totaling nearly $20,000 because the hospital where she was treated did not accept her health insurance.
She described feeling overwhelmed by the financial burden while also trying to recover from her injuries.
Lopez also expressed concern that the person responsible may never be found.
Police Searching for Driver
Investigators said they have not yet identified the SUV involved in the crash.
Authorities do not currently know the vehicle’s make or model and are continuing to search for surveillance footage from nearby businesses that may have captured the collision or the driver fleeing the area.
The hit-and-run investigation remains active, and police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has relevant video footage from the area near Town Center Drive around 7 a.m. on July 13 to contact investigators.
Meanwhile, Lopez continues her recovery while hoping authorities can identify the driver responsible for the crash.
