Suspect in court for Shirley hit-and-run, 3-year-old girl recovering

SHIRLEY (WABC) -- A Middle Island man appeared in court after the hit-and-run crash that injured a 3-year-old girl. The toddler is now listed in good condition.

Police say Scott Shea, 30, was driving a 2005 Jeep northbound on William Floyd Parkway, south of Montauk Highway, when he struck the girl as she was riding in a stroller.

The little girl flew out of the stroller and crashed into a U-turn sign.

She suffered a broken arm and some pretty bad cuts on her face.

Lismar Char is one strong 3-year-old.

Her mother says she's trying to stay strong for her.

"I saw the car go away and, nurse in the traffic and she was helping me," said Lily Rivera, the victim's mother. "It's not easy to see something happen like that, especially for a mother."

Meanwhile Tuesday, the man accused of hitting her, 30-year-old Scott Shea, was in court.

"I'm sorry. It was a mistake," Shea said.

Shea says he didn't even know he had hit the little girl.

Her mother had her in a stroller crossing busy William Floyd Parkway Monday afternoon.

She had gotten stuck between the traffic.

There are differing accounts on what exactly happened next.

Prosecutors say Shea ran a red light, clipped another car, and then crashed into Lismar's stroller.

Shea's lawyer says another car pushed him off the road and into the stroller.

Either way, Lismar flew out on impact.

"She just flew into these signs, she was there laying down saying, 'Help me, help me' and crying. I couldn't move, don't move her, they said don't move her, so I had to wait for the ambulance and all that," Rivera said.

Shea is being charged with leaving the scene of an accident, but his attorney says that's just not the case.

"He was there at the scene. I don't believe that being in a shopping center right next to the intersection is leaving the scene of an accident," said Vincent Trimarco, Jr., Shea's attorney.

Lily Rivera was holding another baby in a sling and that baby is fine.

Shea is being held on $7,500 bail.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.