By Scott A. Marks, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
A four year old boy, Jonathan Vasquez, was killed in a hit and run accident in front of his school recently. The child was riding a scooter to preschool, with his grandmother and older brother walking behind him, when he was hit while crossing the street that leads out of the school parking lot. The driver of the car fled the scene, dragging the boy’s body behind him for a short distance. Because the accident occurred just after the first morning bell, there were few witnesses and the police do not have a good description of the car or the driver, who has only been described as a man with a dark complexion.
Drivers need to be extra cautious around schools and parents need to hold children’s hands when walking in parking lots or crossing streets. Child safety experts warn that drop off and pick up at schools are the most dangerous places for young children, and estimate that about half of all children struck by cars near schools are hit by other parents. School administrators and teachers should remind parents that they need to slow down and drive with caution, and keep their mind on their driving instead of the day ahead. Parents and others picking up children at school should leave the house ten minutes earlier so that parents are not feeling rushed when dropping their kids of at school. And of course, it is always a good idea to hold a child’s hand near traffic.
North Sacramento Police have asked anyone with information about the accident to call Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP. Callers can remain anonymous and might be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. You can read more about this hit and run accident at Child’s hit-run death in North Sac spurs school safety warnings.