BROOKINGS — A 5-year-old Brookings girl riding a Strider bicycle suffered minor injuries after being clipped by a motorist on Tuesday while crossing the intersection of Medary Avenue South and Fifth Street South.
The motorist, 27-year-old Lindsay Johnson of Brookings, left the scene of the accident without stopping to check the girl for injuries, according to a news release from the Brookings Police Department. The accident was reported at approximately 6:49 p.m. BPD Detective Adam Smith wrote that Johnson was found at her residence and was arrested on suspicion of failing to report an accident.
“We would like to remind the public of the importance of wearing safety equipment and also remind drivers to pay extra attention to their surroundings,” Smith said. “With the nice weather and school being out, there is an influx of pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists out.”
According to the release, the girl was traveling northbound at Medary Avenue South approaching Fifth Street South with family members. They stopped at the intersection before starting to cross as Johnson’s 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee was eastbound and stopped at the stoplight. Smith wrote that Johnson didn’t see the family crossing the road and proceeded to turn south onto Medary Avenue, clipping the girl’s left side.
The girl was wearing a helmet and was able to keep herself from falling off her Strider bike. She was taken to Brookings Health System by a family member for minor injuries. Smith wrote that an uninvolved motorist was able to get a vehicle description and license plate of the suspect vehicle, leading to Johnson’s arrest.
