Car may be tied to Lowell hit and run

Police said yesterday that they had made “tremendous progress’’ as officers seized a car in Methuen they believe struck and critically injured Kelvin Savanhmixay, on Wednesday. Lowell police have also identified the driver of the car as a female from Methuen, according to a police source with knowledge of the case who did not want his name used because he was not authorized to speak on the matter. Charges may be brought against the driver as early as today, the source said. The 17-year-old driver, who asked not to be identified, told WHDH-TV last night: “I feel horrible. I hope he’s doing OK. I hope his family is OK.

“I just heard something hit my windshield and I panicked. And I took off.’’

The car, a dark blue Acura, is believed to be one of two vehicles that were racing down VFW Highway toward the University of Massachusetts at Lowell campus when one of the cars struck the young man.

The car was found in Methuen early yesterday, said Lowell Police Superintendent Ken Lavallee during a press conference at police headquarters.

Outside Savanhmixay’s home on Union Street yesterday, family members told the Globe that police said they found the car at a Methuen repair shop. Someone, they said, tried to get the car repaired right after the accident. Family members said the shop’s owner called police when he grew suspicious.

Lowell police would not comment on how the car was found, saying the investigation is ongoing.

“We were just shocked,’’ said the victim’s stepfather, Danny Savanhmixay, 36. “What kind of human being would just run somebody over and take off like that? A kid, too. That could be anybody’s kid, brother, son, a human being. How do you just take off like nothing happened?’’

Savanhmixay said Kelvin was walking to a friend’s house after being let out of the Kathryn P. Stoklosa Middle School on Broadway when he was hit about 2:30 p.m.

Kelvin was taken out of the intensive care unit and was listed in fair condition last night at Children’s Hospital Boston. He is expected to survive. At the family home, his stepfather said that Kelvin had to have leg surgery and that doctors were performing head and neck tests.

Savanhmixay said his wife, Dao, 37, Kelvin’s mother, has not left her son’s side. His wife’s family is from Laos, and several dozen members of the extended family live in the area, he said. Few have slept since the news broke, he said.

Savanhmixay described Kelvin as a “regular kid’’ who skateboards with friends or plays his favorite video games.

The Savanhmixay family is especially grateful to the unidentified person who reported the whereabouts of the Acura to police.

Police say the two cars ran a red light at the intersection of VFW Highway and Mammoth Road, where the victim was crossing.

Seen in a police garage yesterday, the seized car is a 2-door Acura RSX with a Massachusetts license plate and a Methuen High School student parking permit on the rearview mirror. Part of the windshield was shattered on the driver’s side, and there was bumper and body damage. The impact, witnesses said, sent the boy flying about 20 feet.

Lavallee said the Acura is believed to have hit the boy. That vehicle’s driver, police said, sped off immediately.

A second car, a black one, stopped momentarily, but sped off when witnesses approached.

“They should be ashamed of themselves,’’ Lavallee said.

Globe correspondent Michaela Stanelun contributed to this report. John M. Guilfoil can be reached at jguilfoil@globe.com.