NYPD Searches For Brooklyn Hit-And-Run Driver
NEW YORK (CBS 2) -- Police were still searching Wednesday for the driver of a white commercial van who struck a 2-year-old boy while he was sitting in his baby stroller, Jay Dow reports.
Eva Tannenbaum said it's a miracle her son Joseph survived. The boy's diaphragm, lungs and liver were all crushed, she said.
The driver never stopped.
Joseph was being pushed by his 13-year old sister Rivky. She said they were on their way home, standing on the corner of Flushing and Kent Avenues just before 6 p.m. Tuesday.
"I was ready to cross, and this van came past, on the sidewalk. He hit the carriage. The baby fell out. And with the back wheels he went over the baby," Rivky said.
Residents told CBS 2 the intersection where the hit-and-run happened is a problem, and that this was not the first time a person was struck by a vehicle while standing right on the sidewalk.
Moshe Gewirtz said he was hit on the very same corner by a reckless driver. "Hit me so hard, my head went into his windshield, and I cracked his windshield. That's how hard he hit me," he recounted.
Back at the Tannenbaums, there was hope for young Joseph. "I just want to see my son back home. He is the cutest. He is the cutest," Eva said.
Little Joseph underwent major surgery. He was listed in critical condition at Bellvue Hospital.
(VO SPEC OF STROLLER WITH COPS STANDING OVER IT @ 2:13)
Police are still searching for the driver of a white commercial van who struck a 2-year old boy -while he was sitting in his now mangled baby stroller.
Eva Tannenbaum, who does not want her face shown on camera, says it's a miracle her son Joseph survived.
(SOT CLIP #3, 53:04-52:12, VOICE OF EVA TANNANBAUM, VICTIMS' MOTHER) :08
"DIAPHRAGM, LUNGS, LIVER. (jay - all crushed?) "YES."
(track 2)
The driver never stopped. Joseph was being pushed by his 13-year old sister, Rivky, who also declined to go on camera. She says they were on their way home...standing on the corner of Flushing and Kent Avenues just before six o'clock yesterday evening.
(SOT CLIP #3, 52:26-52:36, VOICE OF RIVKY TANNENBAUM, VICTIM) :10
"I WAS READY TO CROSS, AND THIS VAN CAME PAST, ON THE SIDEWALK. HE HIT THE CARRIAGE. THE BABY FELL OUT. AND WITH THE BACK WHEELS HE WENT OVER THE BABY."
(SOT CLIP #26, 13:53-14:03, JAY DOW, BROOKLYN)
"RESIDENTS TELL US THIS IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A PROBLEM INTERSECTION. AND THEY ADD THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME A PERSON HAS BEEN STRUCK BY A VEHICLE WHILE STANDING RIGHT HERE ON THE SIDEWALK."
(SOT CLIP #14, 4:52-4:54,MOSHE GEWIRTZ, BROOKLYN RESIDENT)
"APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS AGO." (please trail sot into following track)
(track 3)
Moshe Gewirtz says he was struck on the very same corner by a reckless driver.
(SOT CLIP #14, 5:17-5:29,MOSHE GEWIRTZ, BROOKLYN RESIDENT)
"HIT ME SO HARD (skip ahead a few secs and pick up here ->) MY HEAD WENT INTO HIS WINDSHIELD, AND I CRACKED HIS WINDSHIELD. THAT'S HOW HARD HE HIT ME."
(track 4)
Back at the Tannenbaum, there is hope for young Joseph.
(SOT CLIP #3, 52:19-53:24, VOICE OF EVA) :05
"I JUST WANT TO SEE MY SON BACK HOME. HE IS THE CUTEST. HE IS THE CUTEST."
(track 5)
Eva Tannenbaum says her son underwent major surgery. He is still listed in critical condition at Bellvue Hospital.
In Williamsburgh Brooklyn, Jay Dow, CBS2news.
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Mother: "My son is doing great. Um, he had surgery, and they said he'll be fine. Just recovery."
Mother: "Diaphram, lungs, liver. (Jay - all crushed?) "yes."
Mother: "I just want to see my son back home. He is the cutest. He is the cutest."
Eva (big sister): "I was ready to cross, and this van came past, on the sidewalk. He hit the carraiage. The baby fell out. And with the back wheels he went over the baby."
