A Duluth woman who allegedly struck an 11-year-old on a bicycle with her vehicle and fled the scene Friday has made her initial appearance in Douglas County Circuit Court.
Mary Catherine Trea, 38, faces one felony count of hit and run—injury. She was released on a $5,000 signature bond and ordered to have no contact with the child, not use or possess alcohol and not drive without a valid license or permit.
According to the criminal complaint, witnesses saw a northbound vehicle on Hammond Avenue at about 2:50 p.m. travel through the stop sign at North 12th Street, striking one of two boys crossing the street on their bikes.
The driver, who was crying, initially got out of her vehicle, a red or maroon SUV, but she left before emergency personnel arrived.
After the Superior Police Department sent a news release about the crash, an employee of a Superior business reported helping a client with a similar vehicle earlier that day. She identified the client as Trea.
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Officer Christopher Woolery interviewed Trea, who admitted she hit the child on the bike. Trea told the officer that she stopped for a stop sign, but didn’t see the boy on the bike until he was right in front of her vehicle. She said she stopped to get out and check on the boy, but then she panicked and left in her vehicle.
Woolery learned from the boy’s mother that he could have possible broken bones and a possible head injury.
If convicted, Trea faces a maximum penalty of nine months imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000. Her next court date is July 31.
