A mother and a 2-year-old girl were struck by a car on Greentree Drive in Waterford around 4 p.m. Monday and the man accused of hitting them appeared in court Tuesday.
Police said the 30-year-old mother was pushing the child in a stroller when the crash occurred and the toddler was thrown around 25 feet from the stroller and onto the curb. Serious injuries were reported and they have since been released from the hospital.
The victims have not been identified.
The vehicle fled the scene, but two witnesses provided police with a description and officers found the suspect vehicle a short time later, police said.
The driver, identified as 27-year-old Shane Bidwell, was arrested and faces charges including DUI, assault with a motor vehicle, and evasion of responsibility in operation of a motor vehicle, among others.
Police reports say Bidwell told officers he'd had one beer around 2:30 p.m., after he got off work, and that he'd taken a klonopin a couple hours earlier and a suboxone in the morning, as prescribed.
Bidwell's attorney said his client has a history of substance abuse and mental health issues.
U.S. & World
“He’s extremely remorseful. It’s a very difficult fact pattern but he’s extremely remorseful,” attorney Dean Golembeski said.
Bidwell was initially held on a $250,000 bond and appeared in court Tuesday, where bond was set at $200,000.
The Waterford Police Department Accident Investigation Team is investigating.
Bidwell is due back in court next month.
