3 Pedestrians Are Killed in 2 Hit-Run Accidents

Three pedestrians, including two Japanese tourists who had been visiting Disneyland, were killed in two separate hit-and-run accidents in Anaheim on Friday night and a fourth person was severely injured, police said Saturday.

Thomas Clifford Rowe, 38, of Anaheim, was killed in the first accident about 8:45 p.m., and his wife, Sharon, 42, was critically injured and by another vehicle as they crossed the street in the 100 block of South Magnolia Avenue, police said.

In the other hit-and-run accident, a 30-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman, both from Japan, were crossing a street near Disneyland Hotel about 9:55 p.m. Friday when they were hit by a car driven by Alfredo Perez, police said. The names of the dead couple were being withheld until their relatives in Japan could be been notified.

Suspect Left Scene

Perez, 22, of Anaheim, who was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, felony hit-and-run and driving under the influence of alcohol, was being held Saturday at the Anaheim police detention facility in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Anaheim Police Sgt. Jack Jansen said Perez was driving his 1978 Pontiac Trans Am about 60 m.p.h. in the 1300 block of South Walnut Street when his vehicle hit the couple and then struck several parked cars. He said Perez left the scene of the accident on foot, but was caught by police.

The two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, Jansen said.

Police said a suspect was still being sought in the earlier hit-and-run crash.

Second Vehicle Struck Wife

Rowe was killed when a “small, gray vehicle” struck him, then sped away, police said. The driver was described by police as between 35 and 40 years old, with a mustache and glasses.

Sharon Rowe was walking behind her husband when she was struck by another car, a 1977 Toyota pickup driven by a 43-year old Lakewood man, police said. She received multiple injuries and was taken to UCI Medical Center, where she was in guarded condition Saturday, a hospital official said.

The driver of the Toyota, who stopped and waited for police, was not arrested or cited, police said.

The Rowes were not walking in a crosswalk at the time of the accidents, police said.