WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — A 13-year-old bicyclist struck by an alleged hit-and-run driver in Luzerne County suffered a brain bleed and a fractured skull, Wilkes-Barre police said.
The teenage victim, whose name has not been disclosed, was last reported to be in critical condition at an area hospital.
Wilkes-Barre Police have charged a 28-year-old man named Shahiyad Deen with striking the boy Monday night in the parking lot of Kirby Park. Deen, of Wilkes-Barre, also smelled of alcohol when interviewed by police and is suspected of driving under the influence, according to a criminal complaint. Blood results are pending.
Police found Deen, who they said fled from the scene of the crash because Deen called them to report that his black 2018 Hyundai Elantra had been stolen. That type of sedan matched a witness's description of the vehicle involved in the crash. The police found his vehicle on Market Street in Kingston. Its shattered windshield was marked with blood and hair.
Deen denied he had been involved in the accident. Deen, however, had dried blood on his left hand and on and shirt. Told he was under arrest, Deen said, according to an affidavit, "He went to back to check on the kid and that the kid said he was fine and he was just hurt."
Investigators also tracked down Deen's passenger, Haajar Hamlet.
Hamlet told officers that Deen had been showing her the area, and they ended up in the park where Deen started "drifting," which is a driving technique involving intentional oversteering and loss of traction.
On one drift, Deen suddenly hit a child in his blind spot.
Deen got out of the car to check on the boy. She told the police he used her phone to call 911.
However, police said he did not stay at the scene.
The child also suffered leg and eye bone fractures, as well as lacerations to his spleen and kidneys. He remained in critical condition Wednesday.
Newswatch 16 learned Wednesday that Deen is suspected in another DUI crash that happened just a week before the one that injured this teenage boy.
On July 29th, Deen allegedly backed his car into a parked car in an Edwardsville parking lot, according to a criminal complaint. In that incident, he also smelled of booze.
He was arraigned on Tuesday and is in the Luzerne County Prison, unable to post a $50,000 bail. His next court date is August 21st.
ORIGINAL STORY-
Officials in Wilkes-Barre are investigating after a 13-year-old boy was hit by a car late Monday.
It happened around 11pm last night in Kirby Park according to a news release from Wilkes-Barre Police.
Police say the driver of the vehicle that hit the boy did not stay on scene.
The boy was taken to the hospital with what police called "major injuries".
There's no word on his condition today.
Police say they have found the vehicle involved, and the investigation is ongoing here in Wilkes-Barre.