Windsor police have named the woman they say was behind the wheel of a red SUV that pinned a 16-year-old boy against a house on Saturday afternoon.
Maria Chouinard, 33, of LaSalle, faces a charge of attempted murder following the incident on Dec. 1 in the 7700 block of Hawthorne Drive.
According to investigators, the red Dodge Nitro involved in the collision was driven to purposely strike the teenage victim — inflicting life-threatening injuries.
Witnesses told the Star that the driver and the victim are mother and son.
Windsor police did not confirm the relationship between the two, but described a call for service involving the woman that occurred just 20 minutes before the collision.
Officers were called around 2:40 p.m. to a restaurant in the 7700 block of Tecumseh Road East, where a woman told officers that she had just been assaulted by a 16-year-old male known to her.
The woman said she had confronted the teenage male inside the restaurant because she believed he had stolen some property from her.
The teen left the restaurant before officers arrived.
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The woman declined to make a statement to police, and was seen leaving the area in a red Dodge Nitro.
Around 3 p.m., Windsor police responded to a call that a pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle in the 7700 block of Hawthorne Drive.
Officers arrived to find a 16-year-old male pinned against a building by the previously seen red Dodge Nitro.
The officers also recognized a woman at the scene as the 33-year-old complainant from the previous call.
The critically injured teen was rushed to hospital.
The woman was arrested at the scene.
This incident remains under investigation by the major crimes branch.
Anyone who witnessed what happened at either the restaurant or the collision scene is encouraged to call 519-255-6700 ext. 4830.
Anonymous tips can be made via Crime Stoppers at 519-258-8477 or www.catchcrooks.com.
dchen@postmedia.com