A Needham woman driving without a license was ordered held on $5,000 bail after she was arraigned today on charges stemming from an incident in which prosecutors say she struck and injured three pedestrians yesterday at Boston’s Downtown Crossing, resulting in a “heroic” rescue by nearby good Samaritans.
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Police say Shanitqua Steele of Needham was driving at the intersection of Washington and School Streets Thursday afternoon when she hit a woman, boy and third person before she tried to drive away.
Shanitqua Steele was arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on a felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in personal injury, as well as misdemeanor charges of driving without a license and use of a vehicle without authority, according to Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley’s office.
Police took Steele into custody after they found her in the building at 3 School St., where witnesses saw her flee after the crash.
Meanwhile, a group of good Samaritans worked together and “lifted the vehicle and dragged the victims to safety”, police said.
The victims were transported by Boston emergency medical services to Tufts Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital. Officers also reportedly determined Steele does not have a valid driver’s license. None of the injuries are life-threatening.
“I think she is very remorseful”, Roitman said.
Steele’s attorney said this was a tragic accident and she only left the scene to find her husband.
According to the DA’s press release, witnesses direct police to the building where Steele had ran and helped them identify her.
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A spokeswoman for the Boston Municipal Court told ABC News the arraignment scheduled for today was still pending and that information about its outcome would be available later.
