Watsonville police make arrest in car accident that nearly killed 10-year-old boy

Watsonville police have arrested a woman they say sped through a crosswalk in March and struck a young boy, nearly killing him.

A 10-year-old boy on a scooter was crossing Main Street with his family at the intersection near First Street on March 12 when he was struck by a speeding motorist.

At the time of the accident, police said that an officer had previously seen the purple PT Cruiser speed through a stoplight and made his way toward that car, only to find that it had struck Jesse Ventura.

Police identified the driver as Brenda Alcara Velador.

Velador was not arrested at that time as the investigation was ongoing for several months. Based on the investigation, police requested the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office file charges against her.

A warrant was issued for reckless driving causing serious bodily injury

Velador was made aware of the arrest warrant but police said she refused to cooperate and turn herself into authorities. Officers believed that she fled Santa Cruz County in an effort to avoid arrest.

Police eventually located her in Vacaville, where they arrested her Thursday.

Velador was then booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bail.

On Friday, Ventura’s mother, Alicia Vazquez, told NewsChannel 5 reporter Michelle Pulido that her son remains in a coma at a Bay Area children’s hospital. Upon being told of Ventura’s arrest, Vazquez said she was glad to hear the news but it doesn’t change the fact that her son is still in critical condition. She was headed to visit her son at the hospital when contacted by NewsChannel 5.