Woman Charged in Hit-and-Run Crash That Injured 4-Year-Old Girl

A Massachusetts woman is facing charges after allegedly hitting a 4-year-old girl with her vehicle last week in North Reading and fleeing.

The North Reading Police Department said Tuesday that a 39-year-old Andover woman, whose name was not released, would be summoned to Woburn District Court.

The crash happened Wednesday morning, with police responding to Lakeside Boulevard around 7:40 a.m. Police said the driver hit the young child, who was in a wagon being pulled by a parent.

"It was terrible to wake up that morning and open up my drapes and look out the window, and I see the police in the street, with the lights on, blocking the street," said neighbor Arlene Garvey. "I'm sickened every time I look out here and see the white paint on the street and remember the little pink boot. It's just sad."

The victim was treated and released from an area hospital.

While the girl has not been publicly identified, her family put a sign with a picture of her in a neck brace near the scene of the crash.

"This is my four-year-old after a hit and RUN," the sign reads. "The driver left my daughter on the side of the road bleeding and helpless after speeding away."

"PLEASE," the sign continues continues. "Slow Down and pay attention to your surroundings. No family needs to go through this again.

While investigators do not believe excessive speed played a factor in the crash, neighbors say it's been a problem on the road for years.

"I hope nothing else happens," Garvey said. "I've made lots of phone calls to lots of people to try to get more attention on this street."

The woman is being charged with negligent operation and leaving the scene of a crash causing personal injury.

Police say the driver turned herself in.

"We had phone contact with that operator, who was at her place of employment in another community, and we were able to, with her cooperation, seize the vehicle and do a forensic analysis on that," said North Reading Police Lt. Thomas Romeo.