Van Jumps Curb, Hits Children
Five young girls were all hospitalized following a frightening accident that happened as they played outside. According to the Nyack-Piermont Patch, the girls were playing in the driveway of their home when a van owned by Five Star Medical Supplies jumped the curb and hit all five of them. All five were transported to area hospitals.
Three of the five girls are related, two are sisters and the third is a cousin. Four of them are nine years old and one is seven. A few were seriously injured.
Christopher St. Lawrence, the Ramapo Town Supervisor, and Police Chief Peter Brower credit one paramedic with saving at least one of the girls’ life. When arriving on the scene, she did not have a pulse and was not breathing. Paramedic Jacob Goldmunzer provided care to all five girls at the scene. Workers had all of them loaded on ambulances and being transported within only 10 minutes of their arrival.
Officials are calling Goldmunzer’s actions heroic.
No charges have been filed in the accident, though it isn’t clear what caused the van to leave the street. The driver, 42-year old Rachid Elarsi, remained on the scene and was fully cooperating with police following the accident. His cell phone was taken as part of the investigation—no doubt to try and determine if he was texting or otherwise distracted at the time of the accident.
When the van crashed, it hit a 7,000-volt powerbox. Fortunately, it didn’t electrify the van, or the girls’ injuries could have been even worse. It was grounded by one of the van tires.
Two of the young victims were admitted into the intensive care unit. Details aren’t available about the others, aside from the fact that two were walking after the accident and all were transported to area hospitals.
In an accident like this, whether or not the driver was distracted, he was at fault for the accident. Accidents like this are rare. Instead, pedestrian accidents typically happen when someone is crossing the street or otherwise close to traffic. Rarely does a vehicle come into a yard and mow down children. But, it does happen.
When tragic accidents like this happen, families need to know that someone is on their side, that someone is looking out for their best interests. The NYC personal injury and auto accident attorneys of Omrani & Taub can be those advocates.
If you or someone you love was injured in a pedestrian accident, you can reach a competent accident attorney for a free consultation at 212-529-7848 (212-LAWSUIT).
