Mother, 3 children hurt walking along Rockland County highway

MONSEY, New York (WABC) -- A mother and her three children were injured while they were walking along a highway in Rockland County on Monday afternoon. One of the children is in critical condition.

Six ambulances were called to the scene of the accident on Route 59 between Spring Valley and Monsey. Two of the children slammed into the windshield so hard with such force that it shattered. Nearby, a baby stroller, with the three-month-old boy's blanket still inside lay tipped over on its side. It was horrifying for witnesses and for residents.

The victims were transported to area hospitals where they are being treated. The children are 9 years old, 13 years old and three months old. Their names have not yet been released.

The section of Route 59 where the accident occurred was closed for hours after the accident, and drivers were urged to avoid the area. Several hundred yards of Route 59 has no sidewalk adjacent to it - there are a lot of people who need to walk along the road to get to stores and schools.

A group of business owners and developers are calling for change, and say something needs to be done to make Route 59 safer. 'Improve 59' drew up a map as to how to solve problems along the busy roadway:

Photo:improve59.com

The driver of the car, 62-year-old Albert Gomez was charged with assault, reckless endangerment and reckless driving. Gomez was remanded to the Rockland County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail.