UPDATE, Feb. 28 @ 7:25 a.m.: The EPD tells us that the suspect, Darren Silva, was taken into custody last night.

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From the Eureka Police Department:

On Friday, January 11th, 2013 at about 1150 hours, a 50 year old female from Eureka, Margaret Contreras, was walking eastbound on the north sidewalk of Buhne Street in Eureka, approaching Pine Street. A white 1987 Toyota pickup was stopped on Pine Street, facing south, at the intersection with Buhne Street. The truck made a hard right turn and drove up onto the sidewalk, running over Contreras and knocking down a fence.

Contreras barely survived her injuries. She was airlifted immediately to Santa Rosa Memorial in critical condition. Her injuries can be described as crushing injuries with many broken bones, bruised and lacerated organs. Contreras did survive however, and is out of the hospital recovering, although she is still in significant pain.

Contreras named 50 year old Darren Silva as her attacker. Silva is a Eureka native. The investigation turned up surveillance video that shows Silva’s 1987 white Toyota pickup driving on the sidewalk at the location of the incident, same date and time. The investigation discovered witnesses who heard Silva threaten to kill Contreras twice within an hour before the attack.

An arrest warrant for attempted murder has been issued for Silva. The Eureka Police Department is requesting friends and family of Silva, to counsel him, into surrendering on the warrant. Anyone with information as to his whereabouts should call the Eureka Police Department at 441-4044 or Senior Detective Ron Harpham at 441-4305.

The Eureka Police Department Criminal Investigative Division wants to thank the many citizens who came forward with information in regards to this crime.