6-year-old suffers serious injuries after being struck by scooter in East Harlem
EAST HARLEM, Manhattan (WABC) -- A crash in East Harlem left a 6-year-old boy with multiple skull fractures, among other serious injuries, on Father's Day.
Police say a man illegally riding a scooter struck the boy at Thomas Jefferson Park on East 111th Street and 1st Avenue just after 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
Henry Diaz-Marin was rushed to Harlem Hospital in critical condition with skull fractures. Authorities say he also has a bleed on his brain and has been transported to Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center.
Eyewitness News spoke with the victim's parents on Monday morning who said their son loves coming to the park and is on the autism spectrum.
He enjoys running around with the other kids and looking at the plants, flowers and nature.
The family was leaving the playground after spending a wonderful Father's Day together when the 6-year-old was struck.
"It was very chaotic, a lot of people were around and a lot of people were in distress. That was heartbreaking. You don't want to hear, especially on Father's Day, that a child was hurt," eyewitness Emmanuel Strohman said.
The child's family said the moped driver had a passenger and initially tried to avoid striking the child. He initially stayed on the scene but took off when he heard sirens, witnesses say.
"In that moment, when they went through him, he collapsed like he didn't wake up in the moment...his eyes were white," the victim's mother, Nereida Diaz-Marin said. "There was another guy who wanted to take the keys of the motorcycle so the guy don't leave, but a woman came and said 'don't touch, he's my cousin.'"
Diaz-Martin said her son's father rode in the ambulance and made sure he stayed awake.
His parents are optimistic after their son opened his eyes and are taking turns sitting at his bedside.
The NYPD has released photos of the man they believe was riding the blue scooter.
Officials say the suspect was last seen speeding away from the crash on a pedestrian path in the park.
No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
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