Girl, 12, killed in Modesto hit and run. Police say driver fled into store to grab mask
A Modesto woman faces murder and several other charges stemming from a fatal crash Sunday evening, after which she ran into a store and tried to steal a face mask and shoes, police say.
A 12-year-old girl died in the crash, which occurred about 7 p.m. at Sisk Road and Plaza Parkway, at the entrance to the shopping centers that are home to Walmart, Winco and John’s Incredible Pizza.
Kelley Ball, 45, of Modesto was northbound on Sisk in a 2006 Jeep Loredo when she ran the red light at Plaza Parkway, the Modesto Police Department said in a post on its Facebook page.
A family of four in a 2013 Nissan Altima was turning left from Plaza Parkway onto Sisk when it was broadsided. MPD spokeswoman Sharon Bear said Ball ran barefoot from her vehicle into the nearby Walmart, where she attempted to take a face mask and a pair of shoes. She presumably was taking the mask to conceal her identity, but Bear did not immediately know if Ball was wearing it when officers located her and took her into custody.
The Altima was driven by the father of the family, while the mother was in the front passenger seat and the couple’s son, 15, and daughter, 12, were in the back seat. The daughter died at the scene, and the son was airlifted to a Bay Area hospital for treatment of major injuries. The father was taken to a local hospital, where he was in serious condition, and the mother suffered minor injuries, police said. Identifications have been withheld while the family makes notifications, Bear said.
Ball, who Bear said has prior DUI convictions, faces charges of murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, felony hit-and-run, vandalism and felony DUI.
She had been married to Lonnie Ball, who was shot and killed by Modesto Police in 2016 during a domestic dispute.
Traffic investigator Randy Raduechel is looking for anyone who may have seen Ball’s black Jeep Laredo driving erratically in or around the area prior to the collision. Information that may assist with the investigation may be emailed to raduechelr@modestopd.com. Tips also may be left with Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers at 209-521-4636.
This story was originally published July 20, 2020 at 12:34 PM.
