WESTMINSTER : Police Arrest Man After Hit-and-Run

Police arrested a 22-year-old Westminster man suspected of hitting a boy on a skateboard and then speeding away, authorities said Friday.

Matthew Thomas Wilbur was being held on suspicion of drunk driving after he struck a 13-year-old Westminster boy on University Street at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, police said. According to Department of Motor Vehicles record, Wilbur has a previous drunk driving conviction and an expired driver’s license.

The boy, Jeff Martinez, was taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange with major head injuries and broken legs. Hospital officials declined to release the youth’s condition at the request of his family.

Wilbur was driving north in the 13700 block of University Street when he swerved to the right as he came upon a dip in the road, said Officer Robin Kapp. As he swerved, Wilbur struck the boy.

Wilbur continued driving away from the scene, but the injured boy’s friend gave police a description of the car.

Patrol officers began searching the area and called in a police helicopter. Officers spotted Wilbur near Westminster Boulevard and Bolsa Chica Road, where he was stopped and arrested. He also was being held on suspicion of felony hit-and-run driving, police said.

DMV records show that Wilbur’s license expired in December and that he was convicted in March, 1992, in Municipal Court in West Covina for driving under the influence of alcohol and was placed on probation until 1995.