Over the weekend, an 11-year-old girl riding her bicycle in the parking lot of East Bridgewater's Central Elementary School was struck by a hit-and-run driver, according to Hoodline. Vehicular shortcuts between Route 18 and Bedford Street have become commonplace in this lot, leading to the unfortunate incident. The SUV connected to the event has reportedly been described as a blue 2023-2024 Lexus NX.
The young girl survived the impact of the collision which hurled her 60 feet away from the point of contact, with only minor injuries reported as mentioned by Boston 25 News.
The driver of the SUV, a 62-year-old woman from Florida, got out of her vehicle, interacted briefly with the girl and then departed the scene. The victim and eyewitnesses recounted the unusual affair to the investigating authorities as featured in a CBS Boston report. Assisting in the identification of the driver was the public, who later turned herself in to the East Bridgewater police.
Public contribution significantly helped investigators, ultimately revealing the identity of the driver. Police Chief Michael Jenkins expressed gratitude towards the community for their active involvement in the investigation, as mentioned in another CBS Boston broadcast.
The Florida woman is for now facing charges of negligent operation of a vehicle and leaving an accident scene causing personal injury, as detailed by Boston.com. The East Bridgewater community continues to rally as the investigation progresses.
