Hit-and-Run Suspect Followed, Arrested

A man who allegedly struck and critically injured a Long Beach City College student near the campus Tuesday night was arrested after an off-duty officer followed him home, police said Wednesday.

Ronald Hougen, 46, of Long Beach was booked on suspicion of felony hit-and-run and felony drunken driving. He was being held at Long Beach City Jail on $50,000 bail, Tabing said.

Dung Nguyen, 32, is in critical condition at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center after being hit by a 1989 Ford Bronco about 9:30 p.m. on Carson Street, east of Clark Avenue, said Long Beach police spokeswoman Nancy Tabing.

Nguyen was walking south across Carson Street in the crosswalk when Hougen allegedly drove through a red light, Tabing said.

“Upon seeing the victim’s injuries, the driver returned to his car and fled the scene,” Tabing said. “A witness, who was an off-duty Los Angeles police officer, followed the driver to his residence.”