APD arrests man for hitting 3 pedestrians

AUSTIN, Texas - Austin Police arrested a man they said hit three pedestrians early Sunday while driving near 6th street and Brazos.

This isn't his first run-in with the law. Police said they arrested him last year for sexually assaulting a woman in front of the U.S. Courthouse.

"It sounded like a gunshot," said Dalen McMillon, manager, Eureka! Austin.

Dalen McMillon, manager at Eureka! Austin, was closing up for the night when he heard the crash.

"Down here on 6th street you just never know what's going to happen. When I heard that going on, I poked my head out and that's when I heard it was a vehicle involved. When I looked down, I just barely saw the side of a pole that had tipped over that apparently he had hit," said McMillon.

Austin Police said a vehicle was driving near 6th and Brazos, early Sunday morning, when it struck three pedestrians. One victim was left lying on the ground bleeding from the head. A bike officer working the area saw the aftermath and was heading over to respond.

But, according to court documents, the suspect vehicle began leaving the scene. Police say other pedestrians started running after it saying to stop but it continued, running through red lights. 19-year-old Said Yarow was ultimately arrested and charged with with DWI and Failure to Stop and Render Aid.

"It's unfortunate. You know, we get people down here just trying to have a good time. It takes one person to kind of ruin it for everybody. You know, at that time of the night, you never know what's going to happen but you always just hope for a positive night," said McMillon.

We're also learning that Yarow has a prior criminal history. APD arrested him last year. He was charged with sexual assault after he allegedly raped an unresponsive female on a Downtown Austin park bench in front of U.S. Courthouse. Court documents state a pedicab driver heard a female scream and then saw the incident, ultimately trying to stop Yarow. FOX 7 spoke with him in June of 2016.

Yarow remains in the Travis County Jail.