Children, especially, are at risk for injuries when drivers don’t watch where they’re going. Distracted driving is a significant problem in many New York neighborhoods. Intersections, in particular, seem to be high risk locations for car accidents, as is evident in a recent tragedy.
A child was reportedly riding a skateboard and, at some point, was seen navigating an intersection. It was approximately 4 p.m. at the time, and the boy was not far from his home. What happened next left many witnesses and community members distraught.
A car is said to have struck the child. Witnesses say it was immediately obvious that he was badly injured. The 18-year-old boy was transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment. Sadly, he did not survive his injuries.
The driver of the vehicle apparently fled the scene. A sports utility vehicle believed to be the one involved in the accident was later found, abandoned. Police continue to investigate the situation, searching for the person who was behind the wheel when the teenager was hit.
Fatal car accidents leave lasting marks upon entire New York communities. The father of the child in this situation said he is trying his best to forgive the driver who hit his son, then left the scene. In similar incidents in the past, when police have located those deemed to have caused injuries to others, recovering victims themselves, or immediate family members of fatally injured victims, have pursued justice in civil court by filing claims for monetary damages against those believed responsible.
Source: NBC New York, “Teen on Skateboard Dies After Brooklyn Hit-and-Run Accident: Police“, Ida Siegal, July 24, 2017
