Maryland Accident Law Blog
A Towson, Maryland district court judge has reduced the bail of the woman charged in the hit-and-run dragging death of three-year-old Elijah Cozart in Baltimore County to $250,000. Cozart’s grandmother had been pushing him in a stroller across Goucher Boulevard when a 1999 Dodge Ram pickup truck, driven by Lazara Arellano de Hogue, struck Cozart, and his grandmother, Marjorie Thomas, 55 as they were crossing the street. The pickup truck continued down the road, dragging the boy underneath it for nearly 3/4ths of a mile before he tumbled free. He was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Thomas is still in the hospital.
Arellano de Hogue, who was arrested on Castle Drive at a home that she shares with her boyfriend, was held at the Baltimore County Detention Center on $2 million bail over the weekend. She claims that she didn’t know she had hit the toddler—only the grandmother, whom she claims she had swerved to avoid.
According to police, however, Arellano de Hogue was seen getting out of the vehicle, pulling the stroller out from under the pickup truck, and driving away.
USA Safekids.org says that:
· In 2002, 599 children ages 14 and under died from pedestrian injuries.
· Of these, 460 died in motor vehicle-related traffic crashes.
· In 2003, nearly 38,400 children ages 14 and under were treated in hospital emergency rooms for pedestrian-related injuries.
· In 2002, 599 children ages 14 and under died from pedestrian injuries.
· Of these, 460 died in motor vehicle-related traffic crashes.
· In 2003, nearly 38,400 children ages 14 and under were treated in hospital emergency rooms for pedestrian-related injuries.
· Children ages 14 and under are more likely to suffer pedestrian injuries in areas with high traffic volume, a higher number of parked vehicles on the street, higher posted speed limits, no divided highways, few pedestrian-control devices, and few alternative play areas.
· Child pedestrian injuries occur more often in residential areas and on local roads that are straight, paved, and dry.
· Children ages 4 and under are at the greatest risk from child pedestrian death.
· In 2002, children ages 4 and under accounted for more than 40 percent of pedestrian injury-related deaths.
· Nearly 10 percent of all child pedestrian-related injuries occur in driveways.
· Children ages 4 and under account for 80 percent of these driveway-related pedestrian injuries.
· Toddlers (ages 1 to 2) sustain the highest number of pedestrian injuries.
· More than half of all toddler pedestrian injuries occur when a vehicle is backing up.
· Children from birth to age 2 are also more likely to suffer pedestrian injuries in parking lots and on sidewalks.
· Nearly two-thirds of child pedestrian deaths are among males.
· African-American children have a pedestrian injury death rate almost twice that of white children.
The personal injury law firm of Lebowitz and Mzhen handles pedestrian accidents, accidents to minors, auto accidents, and other types of accidents that result in someone’s injury due to the negligence of another person. If you or a loved one has been injured in Maryland or Washington D.C., contact Lebowitz and Mzhen for a free consultation.
Bail Reduced For Woman Held in Toddler’s Death, Baltimoresun.com, December 4, 2006
Hit and Run Driver Was Unaware of Child, Sciencedaily.com
Facts About Injuries To Child Pedestrians, USA Safekids.org
Related Web Resource:
Hit-and-Run Deaths See 20% Increase, USA Today.com, October 17, 2006