A woman faces felony carjacking, elder abuse and assault charges after a series of crimes across Del Mar and Rancho Santa Fe on Saturday, Aug. 29.

Laura Partida, 41, was arrested and booked into the Vista Detention Facility, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office said in a release published Monday, Aug. 31. She is charged with vehicle theft, carjacking, assault with a deadly weapon resulting in injury, elder abuse and providing false identity to a peace officer.

The chain of events began earlier that day on northbound Interstate 5 near Del Mar. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that Partida lost control of a stolen vehicle and ended up on the freeway shoulder. When a bystander stopped to help, Partida allegedly took their vehicle and left the person stranded.

Just before 7 p.m., deputies from the 4S Ranch Sheriff's Substation responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked across a driveway inside a gated community in the 6500 block of Rancho Santa Fe Farms Drive.

Deputies found Partida in the vehicle, which was running and in reverse. She was talking to herself with the windows rolled up and refused to cooperate with commands, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Deputies placed a tire deflation device in front of the tires and used patrol vehicles to box her in. Partida backed up, drove around a patrol car and ran over the deflation device. She then drove recklessly through the neighborhood at a high rate of speed before striking a guardrail, the release stated.

Partida fled on foot toward the 7300 block of Saint Andrews Road. There, she entered an open garage where an elderly couple was preparing to leave for dinner. After a verbal confrontation, Partida took the couple's keys and got into their vehicle, according to the Sheriff's Office.

As she tried to drive away, one of the residents was struck twice, the Sheriff's Office said. Deputies and private security officers detained her.

The victim was taken to a hospital. Her injuries were not life-threatening.

The Sheriff's Office is conducting the criminal investigation. The CHP is handling the collision investigations. No court date had been announced as of Monday, Aug. 31.

Anyone with information can call the Poway Sheriff's Station at (858) 513-2800.