YC man seriously injured after being run over

A Yuba City man was hospitalized with major injuries on Tuesday night after he was run over by a car in an apartment complex's parking lot.

The man was trapped under the front driver's side axle for at least 10 minutes, Yuba City firefighters said, and received "crushing" injuries. Firefighters administered CPR for several minutes. The victim was taken to Rideout Regional Medical Center.

The crash occurred around 5:30 p.m. in the north parking lot of the Live Oak Apartments, in the 500 block of Downie Street.

Police said the man, believed to be in his mid-30s, was struck by a gray sedan driven by a woman in her mid-20s, possibly his girlfriend. Their names were not released.

"Preliminary investigation indicates they had some type of argument and he ran out and was struck by the front of the woman's car and became wedged underneath," Yuba City police Lt. Lincoln Eden said.

Eden confirmed the driver and victim had "some type" of relationship, but could not say how they were connected. Several other residents also said the man and woman were a couple. Officers have not determined if the incident was an accident or intentional.

Police administered a sobriety test to the distraught woman who stayed at the scene.

It was not clear if any arrests would be made Tuesday night.

Demetrius Smith was walking on a patch of grass near the parking lot when he saw the man and woman arguing. The 8-year-old Yuba City boy couldn't hear what they were fighting about, but said the man was standing in front of the vehicle and slammed both hands on the hood while the woman was behind the wheel. He said the car moved forward and "made him fall."

"The tire was on that guy's neck," the boy said.

Demetrius' mother, Taneshia Henry, rushed out to comfort her son as he spoke with police. Demetrius was one of several children to witness the crash.

Firefighters used airbags and a floor jack to lift the car off the victim, Yuba City Battalion Fire Chief Robert Bills said.

Police pushed clusters of gathering neighbors away from the scene to make room for emergency responders.

"Come on, buddy, breathe," a man shouted as firefighters performed CPR.

An update on the victim's condition was not available.

Monolito De La Vega was watching television at his apartment when his son's friend ran into his home asking him for help. De La Vega said he ran outside and grabbed the man's hand and tried to feel for a pulse.

De La Vega watched the driver get out of the car. She was crying and asked him to call 911 because she didn't have a phone.

"She said, 'he ran out in front of me and I ran him over,'" De La Vega recalled.

"His head was crushed. It looked like the back of head was busted open," De La Vega said. "He didn't respond at all."

CONTACT Rob Parsons at rparsons@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4785. Find him on Facebook at /ADcrimebeat or on Twitter at @ADcrimebeat.