Sequoyah County Sheriff Johnny Philpot said the woman was discovered on the ground in front of her home by a mail carrier who heard the woman, who could not get up, yelling for help. The mail carrier called 911 and stayed with the woman until help arrived.
Philpot said his office is currently conducting a criminal investigation into the incident, which occurred Nov. 29 near Lee's Chapel Road at the victim's home, which was also the home of the suspect.
The suspect, Bobby Woolridge, 51, was apprehended after the incident in Muskogee County by an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper. He was booked into the Muskogee County Jail for allegedly driving under the influence. Philpot's office currently has a hold on Woolridge, who will be transported to Sequoyah County to face possible charges relating to the alleged hit and run.
"The evidence on the vehicle and at the scene tends to indicate it was criminal," Philpot said.
Philpot said the elderly woman was hospitalized and suffered broken bones during the incident. Investigators are not yet sure whether Woolridge actually ran over the woman with the vehicle.
"We believe it (the vehicle) did strike her," Philpot said, adding that it did not appear to be an accident.
Philpot said his office has three different reports on Woolridge, who after allegedly hitting his mother, got into several altercations with two drivers. He said that a driver on State Highway 101 reported his vehicle was bumped by Woolridge's vehicle while going down the road and the driver was cursed at by Woolridge. A similar situation occurred in Marble City, where Woolridge followed a driver home and cursed at the driver.
Philpot said Woolridge was reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed during the incidents.
Philpot said witness statements were taken and the scene of the hit and run was photographed.
"We anticipate filing criminal charges," he said, noting that Woolridge could face assault and battery with a deadly weapon.
He said they first started getting reports in the afternoon - all with the same vehicle description - and they knew the suspect was gaining ground quickly.
Before sheriff's deputies could get a sighting of him in Sequoyah County, Woolridge was arrested in Muskogee County.
Philpot said they do not yet know what happened leading up to the incidents.
