After a hit-and-run crash injured two pedestrians in St. Paul, police found car parts left behind and received an anonymous tip leading them to a suspect, according to a criminal complaint.

The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office charged Pa Chia Vang, 44, in July with two counts of criminal vehicular operation causing bodily harm and leaving the scene in the May collision.

Pa Chia Vang (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)

Officers were called to the intersection of Idaho and White Bear avenues shortly before midnight on May 4. They found a woman lying on the ground near the parking lot of Exquisite Cake Bakery. She had a puddle of blood behind her head and St. Paul fire medics took her to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with fractured pelvic bones and spinal fractures.

She told police she only remembered walking with her sister-in-law, and said they looked both ways before crossing Idaho Avenue. The next thing she remembered was being in the hospital.

Another injured pedestrian was nearby and medics brought her to the hospital in critical condition. Her injuries included a skull fracture, a traumatic brain injury, fractured ribs and spinal injuries.

She later told police that she and the other injured woman had been at the White Dragon Bar on White Bear Avenue and were crossing the street on their way back to the car.

Officers spoke to a witness who reported a black sport-utility vehicle sped west on Idaho Avenue when the two women were crossing the street. The SUV struck both women and continued driving north on White Bear Avenue.

Surveillance video from the area showed the driver of the SUV appeared to brake upon impact and then the vehicle swerved before continuing on.

Officers also found two car parts that appeared to be left behind from the black SUV. They were identified as coming from a BMW X5 that was made between 2000 and 2006.

Police asked for tips in the case on June 5.

Officers received an anonymous tip, reporting that a woman who lived on Bradley Street near Arlington Avenue drove a black BMW SUV that may have been involved. On June 6, officers found a 2005 BMW X5 — with damage to its front end — parked on Bradley Street in front of Pa Chia Vang’s home.

Vang’s husband is the vehicle’s registered owner and Pa Chia Vang had her identification scanned at the White Dragon, the complaint said.

Surveillance video showed a person who appeared to be Vang went in the White Dragon at 9:26 p.m. on May 5 and left at 11:52 p.m. She “stumbled” as she left and someone helped her continue walking, according to the complaint.

Vang’s attorney couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.

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