Saturday, June 13, 2009

Queens Toddler Injured By Hit-And-Run Driver - NY1

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A two-year-old girl was recovering Saturday from being hit by a car in Queens the previous day, as police sought the driver who sped away from the scene of the accident.

Police say the incident happened shortly after 9:30 p.m. Friday at Rockaway Boulevard and 85th Street in Woodhaven (Ozone Park).


The family identified the girl as Jaylein Peralta, and said she was staying with relatives when she managed to get out of the house and wander into the street.

Police say the car was driving along Rockaway Boulevard when Peralta was hit.

The struck girl was taken to Jamaica Hospital in critical condition.

By Saturday evening, Peralta was in stable condition with no fractures or broken bones, but in need of plastic surgery on the left side of her face, according to her aunt.

Peralta's aunt said that the girl's mother is a cashier at a grocery store down the block from the site of the accident and that the girl had taught herself how to open and unlock doors.

As of Saturday evening, police had no description of the driver or car and are asking any witnesses to come forward.

Anyone with information on the case should contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS, or text CRIMES and then enter TIP577, or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.