A child is tragically dead following an accident in West New York, according to local sources. New York police are investigating the hit-and-run car accident that took the life of a 7-year-old child on the morning of Feb. 29. So far, two individuals have been arrested in connection with the case.
According to the accident report, the girl and her mother were walking in a crosswalk while holding hands when an SUV reportedly crossed the intersection. The vehicle struck both individuals before stopping. One individual got out of the vehicle to see the outcome of the crash before re-entering the SUV, which departed the scene.
The mother was injured in the crash, but survived. The 7-year-old girl was later pronounced dead. The family and the community at large are in mourning. Police have arrested two individuals they believe were in the vehicle at the time of the accident, and they are currently in the process of filing criminal charges.
If the individuals involved are indeed responsible for the car accident that killed the little girl, they could face criminal consequences for their actions, not the least of which was leaving the scene of a fatal accident. In the meantime, New York law allows the family of the deceased girl to file personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against the individuals involved in the crash. These suits could benefit from evidence garnered to support any criminal charges filed against both parties. However, a conviction is not necessary for the civil suit to succeed in court.
Source: abc7ny.com, “2 arrests made after 7-year-old on way to school killed in West New York hit-and-run“, Mar. 1, 2016