3-year-old girl killed, 2-year-old brother hit by SUV injured in Harlem; mother, baby not hurt
HARLEM, Manhattan (WABC) -- A mother and her three young children from New Rochelle were crossing the street when two of the toddlers were struck in Harlem, killing one.
The tragedy happened at West 135th Street and Lenox Avenue, right in front of Harlem Hospital, around 7:40 p.m. Thursday.
The 40-year-old driver sprung into action and attempted to run the 3-year-old girl by foot into the hospital, but it was to no avail, she could not be saved.
She was identified later Friday as Jaynelyse Valdez.
Her 2-year-old brother suffered minor injuries. The 37-year-old mother and a 4-month-old boy were not hurt.
Investigators say the driver was in a Nissan SUV on Lenox Avenue making a left turn onto West 135th Street, when the children were struck.
The driver stayed to answer questions from the police.
A witness who was on the phone with his wife at the time of the crash said it was so loud that she could hear it through the phone.
"My wife said 'what the hell was that' and I looked up...there were kids on the floor, people screaming within seconds, I just see a little kid crawling out from under the bumper, I didn't even see the stroller at first, she was screaming.. but everyone came and helped," said witness Ralph Iacono.
Members of the community say there needs to be a renewed push for traffic enforcement in the area.
"This intersection, these people come around this corner crazy, they don't stop," said neighbor Jermaine Adams. "We need people here 24/7, NYPD traffic, because this intersection gets crowded all the time. The signs are confusing, people don't know which way to go."
An active investigation continues. So far, no arrests have been made.
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