Ohio – In a distressing incident in Ohio, a 55-year-old man, identified as J. Atkinson, faces severe legal consequences after striking a 9-year-old girl with his vehicle and dragging her several blocks. This harrowing incident, captured partially on police body cameras, ended with the child suffering severe injuries. Atkinson was arrested and has been charged with two counts of vehicular assault, child endangering, failure to stop after an accident, and operating a vehicle while impaired.
On the evening of July 22, a citizen alerted a police officer to a horrific scene—a vehicle dragging a girl beneath it. The police and emergency lines quickly received multiple 911 calls regarding the incident. The victim’s mother, in a state of panic, reported that her daughter was riding her bike over a crosswalk when she was hit by the vehicle and caught in its wheels, leading to her being dragged down the street for half a mile, according to reports.
Responding officers found the girl at an intersection shortly after receiving the reports. First responders administered immediate first aid, applying tourniquets to her legs, which both exhibited “extensive trauma.” Unfortunately, the lower portion of her left leg was missing below the knee, and her right leg was also severely injured.
A critical 911 call came from a witness who not only reported the incident but also followed the vehicle to a bar, some 3.5 miles away from the scene. Here, Atkinson was identified exiting the bar by multiple witnesses. Body camera footage from the arresting officers shows Atkinson admitting he was “too drunk to pass” any sobriety tests, acknowledging his impairment even before the tests commenced.
The bodycam footage revealed Atkinson struggling to maintain balance as he interacted with police officers outside the bar. He was candid about his inability to perform sobriety tests due to his drunken state. His confession was punctuated by bystanders’ angry shouts, reflecting the community’s outrage over the reckless endangerment of a child’s life.
Following his arrest, Atkinson was transported to jail, where he is currently held on a $500,000 bond. The stark footage and the circumstances of the incident have sparked widespread condemnation and brought the issue of driving under the influence back into public discourse. The community has rallied in support of the young victim, with calls for stringent action against drunk driving and comprehensive support for the affected family.
As Atkinson faces the legal ramifications of his actions, the community and authorities are left to grapple with the challenges of ensuring such a devastating incident does not recur. The hope is that this tragic event will catalyze efforts to enhance road safety and enforce stricter penalties for those who endanger lives through reckless behavior.
