Pedestrian accidents have been all over the news in Erie County of late. As the seasons turn and more people are out driving around, it is important to remain vigilant of everything going on around you, especially in residential neighborhoods where children are constantly running about. If you or someone you care for has been injured in a pedestrian accident, please call the pedestrian accident attorneys at Dallas W. Hartman, P.C. today at 800-777-4081 for a free consultation.
Two teenagers in Erie are in jail and are facing a laundry list of charges after a high speed chase with police led them to hit and injure an 8-year-old girl. Police say they began pursuing the two 18-year-old men on Friday night around 8:30 p.m. near Parade Street and East 23rd Street.
Police say that at approximately 8:30 p.m., they witnessed a silver, four-door sedan speeding down Parade Street. They attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the driver did not stop and began police on a high speed chase through residential northeast Erie.
The chase eventually ended at the intersection of German Street and 29th Street, just south of where it began. The vehicle being pursued hit a parked car; in turn, the parked car hit an 8-year-old girl. Witnesses say she was thrown several feet from the point of impact. Her 5-year-old sister was also nearly hit, according to the girls' father.
Police say that the driver, an 18-year-old from Poplar Street in Erie, and the passenger, an 18-year-old from Chapin Street in Erie, have been arrested are currently detained. The driver is being arraigned on fleeing and attempting to elude police, vehicular aggravated assault, causing of an accident involving personal injury, concealing a weapon without a permit to carry, drug possession, and reckless driving, among other charges. He is being held in the Erie County jail on $125,000 bail. The passenger in the vehicle in question is being charged with two counts of possessing drugs and one count of possessing a firearm.
Neighbors who were interviewed told reporters that they did not hear police sirens and that blaring sirens could have prevented the little girl's injury if they had been employed. Police had no comment about whether or not the sirens were on, but do acknowledge that the area where the chase took place is active with playing children.
Source: WICU, "Teens Charged After Police Chase and Traffic Accident" 11 May 2014