Victims Condition Update for Wednesday, 6 June 2007

To respect the privacy of the victims, Charles County School System and the Sheriff’s Office aren’t releasing the names of the children who were injured yesterday. 

The nine year-old was treated at Civista yesterday and has now been released to recuperate at home.

Of the two boys who were flown to Children’s in D. C. for treatment, both are in stable condition. The ten year-old has a broken leg, but is doing well. He should be released in the next day or two.

The 4-year-old has had first of several surgeries he will need. His leg was badly broken but may be able to be saved.

 

Original Story on Tuesday, 5 June 2007

A King George woman was arrested for allegedly hitting four children at a school bus stop on Glen Albin Road near U.S. 301 in La Plata Tuesday morning, leaving two seriously injured and one in critical condition before allegedly fleeing the scene.

 
 Jacqueline Simmons
Mitchell Elementary
 
Photos by Heather Bartlett

Jacqueline E. Simmons, 29, was arrested after police obtained a description of her car and stopped her in Waldorf 20 minutes later. She was charged with driving under the influence and hit-and-run.

All three injured boys, ages 4, 9 and 10, were students at Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School in La Plata.

The 4 and 10-year-old boys were flown to Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. for treatment. The 9-year-old was taken by ambulance to Civista Medical Center in La Plata. The fourth victim, a 17-year-old who was supervising the younger children, was treated at the scene.

Sources told The Bay Net that the 4-year-old child sustained a severe crushing leg injury and that he was in serious condition.

Charles County Sheriff’s officers responded to the scene at 8:31 a.m. and learned from eyewitnesses that a group of children were sitting on the curb and standing on the sidewalk, waiting for their school bus when a white Pontiac Grand Prix swerved and struck the children. The vehicle reportedly slowed but continued on, running a stop sign at the end of the block.

The driver of the vehicle reportedly continued toward St. Mary’s Avenue, and officers obtained a look-out for the suspect vehicle.

At 8:52 a.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle on St. Patricks Drive off of U.S. 301 in Waldorf. Physical evidence on the car lead officers to believe it was the suspect vehicle, and a witness at the scene was allegedly able to confirm it.

Simmons was charged with d