Woman injured protecting 4-year-old nephew in hit-and-run with motorcycle
MOUNT VERNON, New York (WABC) -- A 31-year-old woman remains hospitalized after she was struck by a motorcycle while carrying her 4-year-old nephew in Mount Vernon, and the driver allegedly fled the scene.
Alexess Perez spoke from her hospital bed, describing the moments before she was hit on South 3rd Avenue at about 7:20 p.m. after parking her car and beginning to cross the street. According to Perez, the motorcycle turned from East 4th Street and continued toward her.
"He doesn't decelerate or anything. Me and him lock eyes. and he just kept going and hit me," Perez said.
Perez said she was carrying her nephew, Silas, in one arm and a cat carrier in the other after a visit to the veterinarian. She said her immediate reaction was to shield the child from the oncoming motorcycle.
"I kind of held him and I turned my body to get him away and so I took the full impact of the motorcycle, he completely hit me, the motorcycle flipped on top of me," Perez said. "He fell on top of the motorcycle."
After the crash, Perez said the driver got up and spoke briefly before leaving.
"When he stood up he was like, 'Oh, i didn't see you,' which is bewildering to me because we locked eyes," Perez said.
Perez also said the driver smelled of alcohol.
She suffered cuts, bruises and three fractured vertebrae and is undergoing further evaluation at Jacobi Hospital. Silas suffered bruises and is also hospitalized.
Despite their injuries, Perez said she is grateful the crash was not worse.
"Like you just get on your bike and go without a second thought? It's insane, it's scary," Perez said.
"God forbid that could have went any other way, if i didn't take the hit and the baby would have taken the hit, would he be here?" she said.
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