More Charges Added In Hit And Run Dragging Death Of Toddler In Baltimore County

The 41-year-old-woman who was arrested for hitting a toddler and his grandmother with her truck and then dragging the toddler in his stroller under her pickup truck for almost a mile as she left the scene has been indicted for auto manslaughter.

Lazara Arellano de Hogue faces two felony counts of failing to stop her vehicle at the scene of a deadly accident, two charges of vehicular manslaughter, negligent and reckless driving, failing to render aid, and failing to avoid collision with a pedestrian. If convicted for vehicular manslaughter or felony hit-and-run, she could face up to 10 years in prison for each conviction.

The toddler, 3-year-old Elijah Cozart, died as a result of the accident, while his grandmother, Marjorie Thomas, was seriously injured and treated at the Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Thomas is healing slowly and using a walker.

Released since December on $250,000 bail, Arellano de Hogue now is back in police custody. Bail has been set to $2 million.

According to a recent USA Today analysis, the number of people killed in hit and run accidents has grown 20% since 2000.

In 2005, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 974 of the 4881 pedestrians who were killed were victims of hit and run accidents.

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, nearly 11% of all police-reported vehicle-related accidents involve hit and run, and pedestrians make up 60% of people killed in hit and run accidents.

The AAA Foundation says that their analysis of General Estimates System databases and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System found that 14,914 people died from hit and run accidents between 1994 and 2003.

The Foundation offers the following tips to help keep pedestrians safe around traffic:

-Obey traffic signals
-Look left, then right, then left again before crossing the street even when in a crosswalk
-Watch for turning vehicles when crossing
-Remain alert and aware of cars as they approach and pass you
-Do not assume drivers see you because you see them
-When sidewalks are not present, walk as far away from the roadway as possible
-If walking at night wear retro reflective and light-colored clothing

The personal injury law firm of Lebowitz and Mzhen represents clients who have been the victims of hit and run accidents or who have lost someone in a hit and run crash. Many of our clients come from the Washington D.C. and Maryland areas. We also represent clients who have been hurt or killed due to someone else’s negligence in other types of personal injury cases: motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, boating accidents, and wrongful death are just a few of the many kinds of injury cases that we handle. Contact Lebowitz and Mzhen to speak with Jack Lebowitz or Vadim Mzhen.

Charges are added in boy’s dragging death, Baltimore Sun, January 17, 2007
Hit And Run Drivers Kill Nearly 1500 People Annually With Pedestrians At Greatest Risk, According To AAA Foundation Analysis, AAA Foundation For Traffic Safety
Hit and Run Deaths See 20% Increase, USA Today.com, October 17, 2006

Related Web Resource:

Hit and Run Laws In Maryland

Things You May Not Know About Hit and Run Accidents, Deadlyroads.com

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