SAN JOSE, Calif.
– A 12-year-old girl and her mother were killed when a hit-back driver plowed into them in a hit and run on Interstate 80 near the San Jose International Airport on Thursday, authorities said.
The driver, a 46-year old man from North Carolina, was identified as Daniel Bourgeois, of San Jose, California, and his passenger, a 17-year to 24-year new father, were not immediately identified.
They were driving south on the freeway near the interchange when the driver’s vehicle hit them, police said.
Police identified the woman as Jennifer L. Raffa, of North Carolina.
Her husband, a 57-year veteran of the U.S. Army, was also hurt.
Witnesses said the driver was driving a silver, silver Chevrolet Suburban, with California license plates GSR-2.
The couple was driving north on Interstate 280 in a white Dodge SUV when they were struck, said San Jose Police Lt.
Robert L. Burt.
The SUV sped into the northbound lanes of the freeway, then stopped and drove into the SUV, he said.
The SUV drove onto the shoulder, where it struck the girl.
“The driver of the vehicle then drove up to the driver and the driver of that vehicle and shot at the vehicle in an attempt to get the vehicle off the freeway,” he said at a news conference.
Raffa was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of an older vehicle in the southbound lanes was also struck, but he suffered no injuries, police Sgt. Jason Garcia said.
Bourgeois was arrested at a nearby home.
He faces charges of vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence, reckless driving and driving while license suspended.
The girl was not seriously hurt, but the driver fled the scene, police and the girl’s grandmother said.
They were expected to be released later Thursday.
The case is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.
