A Monroe County man is accused of hitting a 10-year-old girl and her grandmother with his SUV last month in downtown Allentown, according to authorities.
Tyler Monzietti, 24, of Tobyhanna, was arraigned Monday morning on charges alleging he caused the May 16 crash that seriously injured the girl. He is charged with felonies of aggravated assault by vehicle and accidents involving death or personal injury, and misdemeanors of recklessly endangering another person.
He remains free on his own recognizance.
Monzietti hit the girl and her grandmother that night near North Sixth and West Hamilton streets, District Attorney Gavin Holihan said in a news release. Investigators said he had left a nearby restaurant and bar in the city and was stopped in the right lane of West Hamilton Street at the intersection with North Sixth Street. He had his left turn signal on while another SUV sat in the left lane, the release states.
The girl and her grandmother were standing at the northeast corner of the intersection waiting for the walk signal. Once the signal changed, they entered the crosswalk on the north side, traveling west, authorities said.
Once the light turned green, Monzietti illegally crossed in front of the other SUV and made an illegal left-turn into the intersection, hitting the girl and her grandmother, according to authorities. Both of them were propelled forward and landed in the street, the DA’s office said. Monzietti got out of the car and saw the girl bleeding from her face, the release states.
He got back into his vehicle and left, before returning about 20 minutes later to identify himself to police, according to the DA’s office.
The girl suffered multiple fractures and had several of her teeth knocked out. An Allentown officer recovered the teeth, which were reattached, police said. The grandmother suffered abrasions to her hands, fingers and knee, according to authorities.
Monzietti did not have an attorney listed for him Tuesday. Additional information is expected to be released Tuesday afternoon.