BOSTON, August 19, 2016—A Needham woman was arraigned today on charges related to a motor vehicle crash in Downtown Crossing yesterday that injured three people, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

SHANITQUA STEELE (D.O.B. 12/12/90) was arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on two dockets, one charging one count each of unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of a collision causing personal injury, and use of a motor vehicle without authority and the second docket charging negligent operation and two additional counts of leaving the scene of a collision causing personal injury.  Assistant District Attorney Caroline Humphrey recommended bail of $15,000 on each docket for a total of $30,000.  Judge Lisa Grant imposed bail of $2,500 on each docket, for a total bail amount of $5,000.

At about noon yesterday, prosecutors say, Steele was operating a 2016 Mercedes-Benz that a family member had rented.  She allegedly drove through a red light at the intersection of School and Washington streets and struck three pedestrians in the crosswalk, then fled the scene on foot.

Several witnesses ran to assist the pedestrians and lifted the vehicle to free the victim trapped underneath.

The victims – a 63-year-old woman from Spain, a 45-year-old Milford woman, and her 9-year-old son – were transported by Boston EMS to Tufts Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital with injuries ranging from minor to serious.  None of the injuries are life-threatening.

Witnesses provided responding Boston Police officers with a description of the driver and directed them to the School Street building she had entered.  Inside, officers located Steele, who matched the physical description provided by witnesses.

In an interview with police, Steele allegedly made statements indicating she was the operator of the vehicle and fled after the crash, prosecutors said.  Officers determined that Steele does not have a valid driver’s license.

Steele was represented by attorney Michael Roitman and returns to court Sept. 14.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt