November 5, 2012 – Rockland, N.Y. – NBC New York reported that five girls were struck on Monday, Oct. 22, when a van lost control in Rockland.
Rachid Elasri, 42, of Spring Valley was traveling on Bush Lane when he apparently lost control of his 2002 Ford Ecoline van and crashed onto a sidewalk. The vehicle ended up on a utility box, but not before hitting five girls ranging from 5 to 9 years old.
All of the victims were taken to Westchester Medical Center. A 7-year-old girl suffered a broken femur, and a 9-year-old girl sustained a serious head injury. The rest were treated and released with minor injuries.
Emergency workers are being commended for their quick work, as the 9-year-old girl had apparently stopped breathing but was revived. It took them just five minutes to get the girls to the hospital.
Elasri is not being charged. Police indicate there might have been a mechanical problem with the van.
According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2010, there were 1,200 fatalities as a result of traffic accidents in the state of New York.
To help raise awareness of traffic safety in the New York area, our firm frequently will publish blogs about traffic accidents that occur throughout the 5 boroughs and beyond. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of New York motor vehicle accidents that may result in serious injury or traffic fatalities.
The most common types of traffic accidents in New York include:
- accidents caused by hazardous road conditions;
- single-vehicle crashes;
- rollover accidents; and
- “distracted driver” accidents or crashes caused by intoxicated drivers.
If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim’s family member or friend and would like the blog removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will accommodate your request promptly.
