A teenager who was behind the wheel in a hit and run that critically injured a man and the teen’s relative who advised him to flee the scene, have both been arrested by the Turlock Police Department.

The collision happened at 10:53 p.m. Sept. 23, at the intersection of Lander Avenue and E. Glenwood Avenue.

The victim, a 41-year-old man, was walking in the area when he was struck by a van.

“The victim suffered a traumatic brain injury as the result of this collision,” said Turlock Police spokesperson Sgt. Michael Parmley. “It is unknown if he will ever fully recover from his injuries.”

Officers were responding to the scene when they were updated by dispatch that the driver of the van was leaving the scene in the van.

A witness followed the responsible and told him to return to the scene. The driver, a 16-year-old boy, did return to the scene on his own, according to the police department.

While at the scene, he was told by an adult family member, identified as Rick Thomas, 36, of Turlock, to leave the scene in the vehicle.

The teen left again and drove to the parking lot of a church in the area of S. Walnut Road and Greenway Avenue, where he parked the vehicle and fled on foot into a nearby orchard. As officers arrived, air support and a K9 were requested from the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office to help locate the suspect, however, the suspect was not found. The vehicle was towed as evidence.

The teenager came to the police department on Sept. 24 and admitted his role in the incident, according to the police department.

On Oct. 12, the 16 year-old male juvenile was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a vehicle collision which resulted in injury to a person.

On Oct. 13, Thomas was arrested and charged with being an accessory to the crime.