A Reading man faces criminal charges after Wyomissing police said he forced his girlfriend to exit the car with her 9-year-old son along the Warren Street Bypass during an argument, stranding the pair on the median during the afternoon rush.
Kristan Diaz-Cruz, 27, was charged with child endangerment in addition to two counts of recklessly endangering another person after the incident on Wednesday.
Diaz-Cruz remained free to await a hearing after arraignment Thursday night before District Judge Tonya A. Butler in Reading Central Court.
According to court records:
Police responded to a 911 call shortly before 5:30 p.m. about a woman and a child trying to cross northbound Route 222 near Crossing Drive from the median. The caller saw an SUV stop in the left lane to drop them off before driving off.
An officer arrived and spoke to the woman. He noticed tears in her child’s eyes.
The woman said she and Diaz-Cruz had just left a Wyomissing grocery store and were arguing as he drove about his interaction with a store employee. Diaz-Cruz stopped in the lane closest to the median and said, “Get out.”
The woman said they were in the median for as long as five minutes until traffic in both northbound lanes stopped to allow them to cross safely.
Where to find help
Call 9-1-1 if you or someone you know are in immediate danger.
To seek the help of an advocate or to contact Safe Berks, call the 24-hour hotline, 844-789-SAFE (7233) or text SAFE BERKS to 20121.
Safe Berks provides free and confidential services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault 24 hours a day. All services are available in English and Spanish, and translation will be used for any other language needed.