Police search for suspect after 4-year-old girl injured in Longwood hit-and-run
According to the NYPD, the girl was crossing the street in front of Longfellow Avenue around 4 p.m. when she was struck by a gray Jeep traveling westbound on Longfellow Avenue.
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Police are searching for a man wanted for leaving the scene of a collision after a 4-year-old girl was struck by a vehicle Wednesday afternoon in the Longwood section of the Bronx.
According to the NYPD, the girl was crossing the street in front of Longfellow Avenue around 4 p.m. when she was struck by a gray Jeep traveling westbound on Longfellow Avenue. Police said the driver fled the scene and continued westbound.
The child suffered a broken right leg and head trauma. She was transported by EMS to NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem, where police said she remains in stable condition.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as neighbors rushed to help the injured child moments after the crash.
"I just heard a loud boom," said Maria Canela, who lives in an apartment overlooking the scene.
Canela said she later learned the child had been struck and was badly injured.
"This girl hit the second tree, flew up, she fell. They said she had a big bump in her head. She was on the floor," Canela said.
Another witness said the impact threw the girl several feet.
"It hit right on the side and flew her from the side all the way to the tree. Something was broken because you could see the bone out," the witness said.
Canela said the emotional toll extended beyond those who saw the crash.
"Brother was crying because he's a small brother. He was like, 'Please get up.' Everybody was panicking. People couldn't sleep because it was in their head," she said.
Police have released an image of a man wanted for leaving the scene of the collision and are asking for the public's assistance in identifying him.
Neighbors told News 12 that speeding has been a longstanding problem along Longfellow Avenue and said they want the city to take steps to improve safety.
"They use this as a racing track. Like a highway. This is not a highway. There are a lot of kids in this community," one resident said.
Marivet Bonilla said she worries about children crossing the street, including her own son.
"I have an autistic son and I hold onto him when I cross the street. Kids be playing in the park. They cross without knowing," Bonilla said.
Residents are now calling for traffic-calming measures, including speed bumps.
"Speed bump — they should put them there. It's not the first accident. Over accident, over accident, this corner or that corner, always," Canela said.
Another resident urged city officials to address the issue while expressing hope for the child's recovery.
"We're begging the city to put something there. By the grace of God, hopefully she'll be alright, man. We're all praying for her," the resident said.
News 12 reached out to the New York City Department of Transportation to ask whether it is aware of residents' concerns about speeding on the block. The agency had not responded as of airtime.
