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Bridgeport police: 3 kids hit by driver while walking to school, third serious crash in three days

Bridgeport police said a driver hit three kids, ages 7, 8 and 11, as they used the crosswalk to get to Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School.

Marissa Alter

Oct 16, 2024, 11:07 PM

Updated 49 days ago

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It’s been a busy few days for the Bridgeport Police Department’s Serious Crash Investigation Team as officers probe three separate incidents that sent several pedestrians and a bicyclist to the hospital. The first two collisions were both hit-and-runs and happened just hours apart on the same road. The latest occurred Wednesday morning as a group of kids walked to school.
“The screams were so horrible,” said Angela LaForest, who witnessed the crash on Park Avenue around 8:45 a.m. Wednesday. “I've never seen nothing like that before.”
Bridgeport police said a driver hit three kids, ages 7, 8 and 11, as they used the crosswalk to get to Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School.
“He just sped out there and hit them so fast. The one little girl went flying in the air. The other two little kids went flying in the air. One kid was bleeding from their chin,” LaForest recalled. “I just rushed straight over there and started comforting them, and then luckily everyone from the school like the principal, the security guards started coming.”
The three kids went to the hospital hurt but are all now stable and expected to recover, according to Lt. Stacey Lyons, who said the sun might’ve been an issue for the driver. That vehicle stayed at the scene unlike two other crashes this week, both on Chopsey Hill Road.
Police were first called there at 10:33 p.m. Monday after a report of a bicyclist down and critically hurt near the entrance to Route 8/25 North.
“This crash was called in by another passing vehicle,” Lyons stated.
A black Honda sedan hit the bicyclist and then fled onto the highway, according to police. The victim, a 34-year-old Bridgeport man, went to the hospital in critical condition, but Lyons said he’s now stable.
Officers returned to Chopsey Hill Road around 2:53 a.m. Tuesday after a 911 caller reported a pedestrian lying in the road near Pond Street after he was hit by a driver who took off.
“A sports utility vehicle is the only description we have at the moment. And that pedestrian unfortunately is still listed in critical condition,” Lyons told News 12. “We're still investigating. We're looking for cameras. We're looking for any witnesses, anyone with any information.”
Police identified that victim as a 44-year-old Bridgeport man. As police probe that crash and the others this week, they’re using the spate of incidents to remind people to be alert whenever they’re on the road in any way.
“With Halloween coming up, we're going to have a lot of children outside, a lot of children happy, running, laughing, playing, and it's so important for us all to play a part in everyone’s safety in the community,” Lyons said.
Lyons reminded pedestrians to be aware of their surroundings—put the phones away and don’t wear headphones—and make sure to walk against traffic.
“Do whatever you can because you can't always count on someone else not to be distracted,” Lyons said.
Anyone with information about the collisions is asked to use the Bridgeport Police Tips Line at 203-576-TIPS or contact the department’s Serious Crash Investigation Team at 203-576-7640.